Use of PDE5 Inhibitor Tied to Increased Glaucoma Risk

A recent study has found that men who used the PDE5 inhibitor tadalafil (Cialis) to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) had a higher likelihood of developing glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and open-angle glaucoma. Researchers from Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan discovered that these patients were more likely to start glaucoma treatment compared to those who did not use a PDE5 inhibitor.

However, the study does not definitively prove that PDE5 inhibition causes glaucoma, but rather highlights the need for baseline ophthalmic assessments and regular follow-up for certain patients, such as those with pre-existing glaucoma, ocular hypertension, a family history of glaucoma, high myopia, or those requiring long-term therapy.

Critics point out potential limitations in the study, such as adjusting for hypertension but not its severity, and the small absolute risk increase. While the findings warrant caution, they do not negate the importance of optimal eye care for all patients.