Wills Eye Institute: Incidence linking aspirin to macular degeneration too low to stop aspirin therapy

PHILADELPHIA — "Talk to your cardiologist." That's the advice offered Friday by Wills Eye Institute, a hospital specializing in eye care,  following a JAMA article linking aspirin therapy to macular degeneration. 

"There's no need for patients to experience undue worry," noted Julia Haller, Wills Eye Institute ophthalmologist-in-chief. "The overall risk for developing serious eye disease on aspirin in the study was low — 3.7% after 15 years," she said. "It is very important to discuss your risk factors before stopping or reducing any aspirin therapy since aspirin can often stave off life threatening heart attacks and strokes."

The hospital released its statement referencing increased confusion and anxiety in the general public about whether aspirin can harm their vision and what to do if they need the heart-protective therapy.

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