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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Men taking Cialis long-term may face a higher risk of glaucoma, a new study warns. Analyzing nearly 74,000 men, researchers found tadalafil users were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma over five years. Experts aren't telling patients to stop the drug — but they are calling for closer eye monitoring, especially in those already at risk.
A large multinational study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology has found that men who take tadalafil (Cialis) long-term for urinary symptoms linked to an enlarged prostate face a significantly higher risk of developing glaucoma. Analyzing data from nearly 74,000 men aged 40 and older, researchers compared tadalafil users against matched non-users over a five-year period — and the results raised some notable red flags for eye health.
The study found that tadalafil users were not only more likely to develop glaucoma overall, but also faced elevated risks for related conditions. Researchers caution this is an observational study, so it can't prove causation — but the consistency of findings across subgroups makes the association hard to ignore.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Tadalafil is widely prescribed and often taken daily over long periods. These findings don't call for stopping the medication, but they do signal that patients — especially those with a family history of glaucoma, ocular hypertension, or high myopia — may need baseline eye exams and regular follow-up to catch any problems early.
