We only know of one way to treat glaucoma and that is to lower pressure. A recent study published in the October 2012 issue of “Ophthalmology” offers preliminary evidence that patients taking statins for raised cholesterol develop glaucoma less frequently. And statins have no effect on intraocular pressure. We think that statins could work by improving the delivery of blood to the optic nerve or protect retinal nerve cells from dying. Some evidence suggests statins might be helpful in conditions of the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis and a similar mechanism might work on retinal nerve cells too. As always we need further evidence and a large trial to investigate this further will be needed. Definitive evidence may take years. In the meantime, if you have glaucoma and your cholesterol is only midly raised, consider asking your doctor to put you onto a statin.