Erectile dysfunction drug may raise glaucoma risk, researchers warn
A study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that long-term use of the erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil may increase the risk of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Researchers recommend that patients with pre-existing eye conditions or family histories of glaucoma should have their eye health monitored while taking the medication.
Why it matters
This finding highlights a potential significant side effect for a widely used medication, necessitating better clinical oversight for millions of users.
Common erectile dysfunction drug may drastically increase risk of blindness An erectile dysfunction drug may increase the risk of a common eye condition that can cause blindness.
Those taking the drug tadalafil long-term should have their eye health monitored , scientists warn.
Tadalafil, which is also used to tackle the symptoms of an enlarged prostate , works by relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow.
But the medication is also associated with causing various eye health issues, including conditions affecting the optic nerve and the macula – the part of the retina responsible for sharp detailed vision.
Researchers in Taiwan have discovered there is some suggestion the drug can increase the risk of glaucoma – the leading cause of blindness worldwide, which affects more than a million people in the UK.
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