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Tadalafil, a widely used pharmaceutical treatment for erectile dysfunction and urinary symptoms, may significantly elevate the risk of glaucoma in men, according to research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Scientists examined medical records spanning up to five years for approximately 74,000 men aged 40 and older, dividing the sample between roughly 37,000 tadalafil users and a control group that did not take phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, the drug category that includes Cialis.
Men taking tadalafil demonstrated a 22 percent higher likelihood of developing glaucoma compared with nonusers, the analysis revealed. The medication was also associated with a 32 percent increased risk of elevated intraocular pressure and a 33 percent greater chance of primary open-angle glaucoma, the most prevalent form of the disease.
Glaucoma poses particular detection challenges early in its progression, according to Dr. Valerie Kattouf, an optometrist at the Illinois Eye Institute who reviewed the findings. The condition typically produces no noticeable symptoms initially, but gradually causes peripheral vision loss as it advances, making comprehensive eye evaluations essential for identifying clinical changes.
Individuals with family histories of glaucoma, elevated eye pressure, or severe myopia face heightened vulnerability, Kattouf noted. Those taking daily Cialis doses over extended periods warrant closer ophthalmological monitoring through baseline eye health assessments and periodic pressure checks.
The research team acknowledged significant limitations, emphasizing that the observational study identified correlation rather than causation between tadalafil use and glaucoma. Researchers could not track medication changes or account for other evolving health conditions across the study period.
Investigators stressed that findings do not warrant discontinuing the medication, but rather suggest that long-term users, particularly those with existing risk factors, should undergo regular eye examinations. Eli Lilly, manufacturer of Cialis, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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