Patients taking glaucoma medications regularly may have reduced risk for early death

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HealthDay (2/8, Edelson) reported, "People who take medication to treat glaucoma appear to outlive those who don't treat the eye disease," according to a study published in the February issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. In a study of "21,506 people with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma," researchers found that patients "who regularly took glaucoma medications had a 74 percent reduced risk for early death, compared with those who didn't take the drugs." One study author theorized that "the medications are beneficial, acting to boost kidney function, lower blood pressure, or otherwise improve general health." Reuters (2/9, Allen) also covers the story.