title: Does the use of acetylsalicylic acid have an influence on our vision?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties. This review aims to describe the relationship between acetylsalicylic acid and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - a chronic disease that causes deterioration of visual acuity and is one of the most common ophthalmological diseases these days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data presented in this review were collected from both research and review articles concerning ophthalmology and pharmacology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the studies analyzed in this review are not unambiguous. Moreover, the studies are not homogenous. They differed from one another in terms of the number of patients, the age criteria, the ASA dose, and the duration of control period. The reviewed studies revealed that ASA therapy, which is applied as a protection in cardiovascular diseases in patients with early forms of AMD and geographic atrophy, should not be discontinued.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of the present studies, it cannot be unequivocally said whether ASA influences people's vision and if people endangered with AMD progression or who are diagnosed with AMD should use this drug. It may increase the risk of AMD, but it can also reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions. The authors suggest that in order to avoid possible risks of AMD development, people who frequently take ASA should have their vision checked regularly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland; University Clinical Center, University Hospital Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michalska-Małecka
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Center, University Hospital Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regucka
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Center, University Hospital Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Śpiewak
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Center, University Hospital Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sosnowska-Pońska
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Center, University Hospital Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niewiem
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin
keywords: AMD; acetylsalicylic acid; drusen genesis; geographic atrophy; lipofuscin genesis; retinal pigment epithelium cells