Patients with macular degeneration, for heart and other conditions are receiving antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications such warfarin, and clopidogrel run a higher risk of retinal hemorrhage or over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin than people who do not.
Researchers reviewed the records of nearly 200 eyes of patients whose average age was 83. Nearly 1/2 of them were taking antiplatelets and/or anticoagulants every day.
63% of these patients taking the drugs every day developed retinal hemorrhage compared to the 29% who didn’t take the medications. Retinal bleeding was also found to be highest among patients who were using more than one drug for this purpose.
Because the medical professionals feel that these patients must continue to take the drugs it is important that the patients work closely with their ophthalmologist and that the use of these drugs be noted on the eye doctors’ patient charts.
{Published: “The Association of Antiplatelets and Anticoagulants With Intraocular Hemorrhage in Patients With Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration,” https://www.asrs.org/
Editor’s Note: In such cases, it is important that patients maintain diets and consider other complementary treatment to support the health of their retina and macula.