Long-term use of tadalafil may increase risk of glaucoma, study finds

A new study examined whether extended use of tadalafil, a medication for erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate symptoms, is associated with increased glaucoma risk. Researchers analyzed records of nearly 74,000 men over 40 with lower urinary tract issues, contrasting about 37,000 men prescribed tadalafil with a comparable cohort not using phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Over a follow-up period of up to five years, tadalafil users were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma, 32% more likely to experience high intraocular pressure, and 33% more likely to develop primary open-angle glaucoma.

Optometrist Valerie Kattouf explained that early glaucoma often goes unnoticed and can gradually erode peripheral vision, underscoring the importance of comprehensive eye evaluations. The observational nature of the study means it cannot prove causation, and the authors caution against stopping the medication but recommend regular monitoring for patients with existing risk factors. Eli Lilly and the study’s investigators were contacted for comment.