Long-Term Birth Control Use Could Double Glaucoma Risk

According to findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there is a link between long-term birth control use and the risk of developing glaucoma. Researchers used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to complete their study. Questionnaires and eye exams were issued to 3,406 women over the age of 40 between 2005 and 2008. The research team also scanned for preexisting risk factors including ethnicity, family history of glaucoma, increased eye pressure, and other health conditions. Results of the analysis showed that women who had used any type of oral contraceptive for three or more years were 2.05 times more likely to be diagnosed with glaucoma. The findings of this study should be taken into consideration while planning birth control strategies.