Popular erectile dysfunction drug linked to eye disease that can cause irreversible vision loss

A drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate symptoms may raise the risk of glaucoma, a serious eye condition that can cause gradual vision loss, according to new research. 

An international team of researchers analyzed health records from nearly 74,000 men ages 40 and older with lower urinary tract symptoms to examine whether long-term tadalafil use was associated with a greater risk of glaucoma. 

The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, compared about 37,000 men prescribed tadalafil with a similar group who did not use phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, the drug class that includes Cialis.

Researchers followed the men for up to five years and looked for new cases of glaucoma and high pressure inside the eye, along with whether patients needed treatment for glaucoma.

People who regularly use the medication should have a comprehensive eye exam to establish a baseline for their eye health, according to Kattouf. Doctors can check pressure inside the eyes and perform other tests to look for changes that could signal glaucoma.

The researchers noted several limitations to the study.

The study was observational, meaning it found a link between tadalafil use and glaucoma but could not prove that the medication caused the condition.

Researchers also could not account for changes in medication use or other health conditions that developed over time.

The researchers stressed that the findings do not mean people should stop taking tadalafil. Instead, they said, patients who use the medication long term, particularly those with existing glaucoma risk factors, may benefit from regular eye monitoring.

Fox News Digital reached out to Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Cialis, and the study’s researchers for comment.