Meta-analysis of 28 studies: statins did not protect against age-related macular degeneration

Statin therapy is not sufficient to protect against the development or progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, reported by endocrinologyadvisor.com. ophthalmologyadvisor.comendocrinologyadvisor.comophthalmologyadvisor.comOpen source ↗ The authors searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library through October 2025 and included 28 studies, 27 of them observational, with 1,918,120 participants in total. The paper was published online on November 7, 2026. The researchers advise against prescribing statins specifically for AMD.

Design and pooled estimates

Earlier research gave varied results on whether HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors influence the course of AMD. Two meta-analyses from 2022 also found no link. The present study analysed prevalence separately from incidence, reviewed odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs) and relative ratios individually, and tied progression to specific clinical events. Most studies were conducted in North America or Europe; some involved Israel, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea or Australia.

Pooled ORs were 1.03 (95% CI, 0.86–1.24) for any AMD, 1.10 (0.92–1.31) for early AMD and 0.75 (0.46–1.25) for late AMD. The pooled HR for incidence of any AMD was 1.04 (0.82–1.31; I² = 79.1%; τ² = 0.054), and the OR for incidence of any AMD was 0.76 (0.43–1.34).

Subgroups and limitations

For incidence of neovascular AMD, the OR was inconclusive (0.93; 95% CI, 0.82–1.05), while the authors found a lower hazard (HR, 0.72; 0.60–0.85) and a higher risk (risk ratio, 1.31; 1.18–1.44). ophthalmologyadvisor.comendocrinologyadvisor.comophthalmologyadvisor.comOpen source ↗ Among Americans aged at least 68 years, statin use was linked with reduced odds of AMD (OR, 0.69; 0.51–0.94) and early AMD (OR, 0.69; 0.49–0.97).

Two studies followed patients with at least 5 years of statin exposure. In patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, high-intensity statin therapy was associated with a lower likelihood of AMD (HR, 0.78). Another study showed that statin use through 5 or 6 years was not linked with progression to advanced AMD.

Two of the longitudinal nonrandomized studies had a moderate overall risk of bias, and the other 10 had a serious one. The stated limitations include selection bias and limited data on adherence to statins. The investigators note that decisions on statin use should continue to be guided by established cardiovascular indications and an individualized assessment of benefits, contraindications and potential adverse effects.