Researchers have found that metformin, one of the most widely prescribed treatments for diabetes, is associated with a significantly lower risk of progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
New research from the University of Liverpool shows that people with diabetes aged over 55 who were taking metformin were 37% less likely to develop intermediate AMD over a 5-year period compared with those not taking the drug.1 The findings offer fresh hope for millions affected by a condition for which effective treatments remain limited.
The Liverpool study analysed retinal photographs from 2,000 people attending the routine diabetic eye disease screening program in Liverpool over a 5-year period. Researchers graded the presence and severity of AMD directly from eye images and compared outcomes between individuals taking metformin and those who were not. The analysis adjusted for factors such as age, sex, and duration of diabetes.
The results showed that the odds of developing intermediate AMD over 5 years were 0.63 in the metformin group compared with those not taking the drug (95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.92).
Although a protective effect of metformin in AMD has been suspected previously, this study is the first to assess AMD severity using graded retinal photographs. Earlier studies relied on indirect measures such as GP diagnostic codes or insurance claims data, primarily from the United States.
“Most people who suffer from AMD have no treatment, so this is a great breakthrough in our search for new treatments," said Dr. Nick Beare, an ophthalmologist who led the research. "What we need to do now is test metformin as a treatment for AMD in a clinical trial. Metformin has the potential to save many people’s sight.”
Reference
1. Beare, N., et al. (2026). Association between metformin use and progression of age-related macular degeneration in people with diabetes: a five-year retinal imaging study. BMJ Open Ophthalmology. Published online February 3, 2026.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2025-002339
