Ocular adverse effects have been reported among users of PDE5 inhibitors, including rare but serious events such as retinal detachment, retinal vascular occlusion, and ischemic optic neuropathy.In a retrospective study, men who used tadalafil for lower urinary tract symptoms had a small but statistically significant increased risk of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.These findings conflict with a recent study that suggested a protective effect against ocular adverse events for tadalafil prescribed for erectile dysfunction.
Men who used the PDE5 inhibitor tadalafil (Cialis) for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) had an increased likelihood of developing glaucoma-related clinical events, according to a large retrospective study.
Rates of glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and open-angle glaucoma were significantly higher in men with a history of tadalafil prescriptions for LUTS. These patients were also significantly more likely to initiate treatment for glaucoma as compared with men who did not use a PDE5 inhibitor.
The findings do not prove that PDE5 inhibition can cause glaucoma but add to existing evidence linking the drug class to ophthalmic conditions, reported Chien-Chih Chou, MD, PhD, of Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan, and colleagues in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
