The Relationship Between Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Age-related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

We read the article by Modjtahedi and associates 1 Modjtahedi B.S. Fong D.S. Jorgenson E. Van Den Eeden S.K. Quinn V. Slezak J.S. The relationship between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and age-related macular degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol. 2018; 188: 111-122 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar with great interest. The authors concluded that long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may have a protective effect on exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 1 Modjtahedi B.S. Fong D.S. Jorgenson E. Van Den Eeden S.K. Quinn V. Slezak J.S. The relationship between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and age-related macular degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol. 2018; 188: 111-122 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar They also reported that new users of any NSAIDs had a lower risk of nonexudative AMD only in short-term use. 1 Modjtahedi B.S. Fong D.S. Jorgenson E. Van Den Eeden S.K. Quinn V. Slezak J.S. The relationship between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and age-related macular degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol. 2018; 188: 111-122 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar Since inflammation is a risk factor in the pathogenesis of AMD, 2 Ambati J. Atkinson J.P. Gelfand B.D. Immunology of age-related macular degeneration. Nat Rev Immunol. 2013; 13: 438-451 Crossref PubMed Scopus (348) Google Scholar this study is beneficial in searching for new treatment options in AMD. The Relationship Between Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Age-related Macular DegenerationAmerican Journal of OphthalmologyVol. 188PreviewTo describe the relationship between the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) use. Full-Text PDF ReplyAmerican Journal of OphthalmologyVol. 189PreviewWe appreciate Pekel and Pekel's interest in our study1 and their thought-provoking commentary. Our study had several limitations intrinsic to its study design and source data. We invite readers to read the discussion of our manuscript, which more fully outlines the limitations of this study, including the fact exposure was assessed based on 2 surveys in 2002 and 2006, that these results in men may not be generalizable to women, and that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) dose was not known. Full-Text PDF