Erectile dysfunction drug may heighten risk of eye disease, study shows
Men who take a widely-used erectile dysfunction drug to treat an enlarged prostate are "significantly more likely" to develop glaucoma, a new study has found.
A recent study has found that men who use tadalafil, an erectile dysfunction drug, long-term may be at an increased risk of developing serious eye diseases such as glaucoma. The research, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology and conducted on 74,000 men aged 40 and older, found that those who took the drug were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma compared to those who did not.
Tadalafil, sold under brand names such as Cialis, is also used to treat urinary tract problems associated with an enlarged prostate. Optometrist and research fellow Flora Hui, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the importance of regular eye screenings for those taking the drug, especially those with risk factors for glaucoma.
The study's lead author, a Taiwanese researcher, noted that while the overall risk of developing glaucoma was still low, the study highlighted the need for further research to understand the mechanisms behind the increased risk.
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