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News
Men with erectile dysfunction face higher glaucoma odds, a large UK study finds. Analyzing data from over 1 million men, researchers found ED was associated with a 12–23% higher likelihood of developing primary open-angle glaucoma. The link may point to shared vascular dysfunction as an underlying mechanism.
A large UK-based study has found that men diagnosed with or treated for erectile dysfunction (ED) are significantly more likely to develop primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) — the most common form of glaucoma — compared to men without ED. The prospective nested case-control study drew on two primary care databases spanning 2005 to 2022, making it one of the most comprehensive analyses of this potential link to date.
Researchers from University College London analyzed data from over 218,000 men with POAG and nearly 877,000 matched controls. ED was more prevalent among men with POAG in both datasets, and the association held up across multiple sensitivity analyses and after pooling results across databases.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that vascular health plays a key role in glaucoma risk. Researchers hypothesize that ED may reflect broader endothelial dysfunction or impaired microvascular regulation — the same mechanisms that can compromise blood flow to the optic nerve.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: If ED serves as a systemic vascular biomarker, clinicians may have an opportunity to flag at-risk men for earlier glaucoma screening — potentially catching vision-threatening disease before significant damage occurs.
