Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be associated with a decreased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to researchers.
The retrospective cohort study found the effects were continuous for older patients five and eight years after initiation of treatment.1
The study authors said oestrogen in HRT exerts anti-inflammatory effects believed to oppose AMD pathogenesis.
While the study stopped short of saying HRT can be protective against AMD, it found there was a decreased risk of developing AMD in patients more than 60 years of age at five years and eight years after HRT initiation.
Patients more than 75 years of age also demonstrated a reduced risk of developing AMD after five and eight years of HRT use. Patients more than 75 years of age had a reduced risk of progression to exudative AMD at eight years after HRT initiation.
Reference
- Guo C, Zhao A, Talcott K, et al. (2026). Effect of hormone replacement therapy on risk of age-related macular degeneration among an aggregate health record cohort. Ophthalmic Surg. Lasers Imaging Retina. 2026;57(9):566-574. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20260813-03.
