Full Breakdown
Tadalafil Use Associated with Elevated Glaucoma Risk
8/25/2026, 2:07:40 AM
Core Findings
A retrospective analysis published in the *British Journal of Ophthalmology* on August 4, 2026 found that men aged 40 and older who took tadalafil for lower urinary-tract symptoms were 22 % more likely to be diagnosed with glaucoma than matched peers who did not use phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. The same cohort showed 32 % higher odds of ocular hypertension and 33 % higher odds of primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common glaucoma subtype.
Study Details & Statistics
Researchers accessed electronic health records from the multinational TriNetX database, matching 36,927 tadalafil users with an equal number of non-users. Over up to five years of follow-up, glaucoma was identified in 3.93 % of users versus 3.16 % of controls. Relative-risk calculations yielded the 22 % increase cited above. Additional outcomes—initiation of glaucoma treatment and diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma—each rose by 33 % among users. The analysis excluded men with a pre-existing glaucoma diagnosis.
Expert Viewpoint
Dr. Valerie Kattouf, an optometrist at the Illinois Eye Institute, emphasized that glaucoma often progresses without noticeable symptoms. She advised that men on daily tadalafil, especially those with family history, high intraocular pressure, or severe myopia, obtain a comprehensive baseline eye exam and regular monitoring to detect early optic-nerve changes.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Glaucoma is an eye condition that especially in its early stages often does not present with visual symptoms,” — Dr. Valerie Kattouf
- “Clinical findings of glaucoma are best detected in a comprehensive vision evaluation,” — Dr. Valerie Kattouf
Limitations & Recommendations
The study’s observational design means it can identify an association but cannot establish causation; medication changes and emerging health conditions were not fully accounted for. Researchers used propensity-score matching to balance factors such as age, race, kidney function, and comorbidities, yet residual confounding may remain. Clinicians are urged to discuss the potential eye-health signal with patients considering long-term tadalafil therapy and to arrange periodic intraocular-pressure assessments, recognizing that early detection remains the most effective strategy to preserve vision.
