Cialis Linked to Higher Glaucoma Risk, Study Finds

Study Details and Findings on Tadalafil

The research team, led by Chien-Chih Chou, a professor at the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei, examined medical records for nearly 74,000 men aged 40 or older. Half of the cohort had been prescribed tadalafil or another phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) for up to five years between January 2012 and December 2022.

The data revealed distinct increases in risk among men prescribed tadalafil:

• They were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma.
• They had a 32% increased risk of developing ocular hypertension, or high fluid pressure in the eyes.
• They faced a 33% higher likelihood of developing primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of the disease.
• They were 33% more likely to start glaucoma treatment.

Cialis and drugs like sildenafil (Viagra) belong to the PDE5i class of medications. These drugs promote blood flow by relaxing blood vessels, a mechanism that researchers note has previously been linked to various eye health concerns.

Clinical Perspectives on Glaucoma Risk

Despite the statistical associations, the observational nature of the research means investigators could not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between Cialis and glaucoma. Dr. Jung Lee, clinical director for the Northwell Health Eye Institute at Bethpage in New York, noted that patients taking the medication are not necessarily at immediate risk of losing their eyesight.

“I don’t think that patients who take Cialis are going to be at risk for losing their eyesight,” Lee said, adding that there is no contraindication to starting the medication based solely on this potential risk.

Researchers and clinical specialists emphasize that patients should not stop taking Cialis or similar medications based on these findings alone. Instead, Chou’s research team suggested that enhanced ophthalmic monitoring should be considered for patients receiving long-term tadalafil therapy, particularly individuals who already carry risk factors for eye disease.

Lee advised that patients with pre-existing glaucoma, ocular hypertension, a family history of the disease, high myopia, or those requiring long-term therapy should discuss their medication regimens with an eye care provider to determine appropriate follow-up schedules.