Dopamine antagonists linked to higher risk of exudative AMD conversion

Long-term use of dopamine antagonist therapies may increase the risk of progression from nonexudative to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study.

The study included 558 eyes from 354 patients diagnosed with nonexudative AMD and followed them for at least 1 year. After controlling for factors such as age, sex, smoking history, hypertension, and use of Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) or AREDS2 prescription, the study found that patients on dopamine antagonists for at least 3 years had a significantly higher likelihood of developing exudative AMD (P = 0.005).

The researchers concluded that “These findings warrant further investigation of dopamine signaling in conversion to exudative AMD.”

Reference
Weng PJ, Morgan R, Grewal DS, et al. Possible Association Between Dopamine Antagonists and Increased Conversion to Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration. J Vitreoretin Dis. 2025;24741264251330338. doi: 10.1177/24741264251330338. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40191068; PMCID: PMC11966630.