Popular erectile dysfunction drug linked to eye disease that can cause irreversible vision loss

Key Points:

• New research suggests that long-term use of tadalafil, a drug for erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate symptoms, may increase the risk of glaucoma, a serious eye condition causing gradual vision loss.
• The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, analyzed health records of nearly 74,000 men aged 40 and older, finding that tadalafil users were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma and 33% more likely to develop primary open-angle glaucoma.
• Experts advise that glaucoma often has no early symptoms and recommend comprehensive eye exams for people using tadalafil long term, especially those with existing risk factors like family history or high eye pressure.
• The study was observational and could not establish causation, nor account for changes in medication or health conditions over time, so researchers emphasize that patients should not stop tadalafil but consider regular eye monitoring.
• The study’s authors and Cialis manufacturer Eli Lilly were contacted for comment, but no response was noted in the report.