ED Drug Might Increase Glaucoma Risk, Study Says

• August 17, 2026
• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

The erectile dysfunction drug Cialis might increase the risk of glaucoma among men taking it to treat urinary incontinence, a new study says.

Men taking tadalafil (Cialis) to treat side effects from an enlarged prostate wound up with higher odds of glaucoma and high fluid pressure in their eyes, researchers report in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

“Enhanced ophthalmic monitoring may be considered for patients receiving long-term tadalafil, particularly those with glaucoma risk factors,” concluded the research team led by Chien-Chih Chou, a professor at the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei.

Cialis, like sildenafil (Viagra), belongs to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i). The drugs promote erections by relaxing the blood vessels, but have been associated with eye health issues.

For this new study, researchers analyzed data for nearly 74,000 men 40 or older, half of whom had been prescribed tadalafil or another drug in its class for up to five years between January 2012 and December 2022.

All the men had been prescribed the drugs to treat urinary tract symptoms like sudden urgency and frequency of urination, researchers said.

Men prescribed tadalafil were 22% more likely to develop glaucoma; 32% more likely to develop ocular hypertension; and 33% more likely to develop primary open angle glaucoma, the most common type of the disease.

They also were 33% more likely to start glaucoma treatment, the study found.

Researchers said men shouldn’t stop taking Cialis due to these findings, but should consider regular eye check-ups, “particularly in patients with pre-existing glaucoma, ocular hypertension, a family history of glaucoma, high myopia or those requiring long-term therapy.”

Dr. Jung Lee, clinical director for the Northwell Health Eye Institute at Bethpage in New York state, agreed that it’s too early to say for certain that Cialis causes glaucoma.

“I don't think that patients who take Cialis are going to be at risk for losing their eyesight,” she said. “I don't think there's a contraindication to starting the medication just because of a possible risk of glaucoma.”

Because the study was observational, it couldn’t draw a direct cause-and-effect link between Cialis and glaucoma, Lee said.

However, she added it makes sense to get regular eye exams to keep track of eye health, especially among patients with a history of eye disease.

“Because glaucoma is essentially a silent disease, any patient who has glaucoma risk factors, who maybe already knows that they are considered a glaucoma suspect or have a history of potentially borderline or high pressures, a family history of glaucoma, those patients already should definitely be screened beforehand and have just regular ongoing checkups,” Lee said.

“And then whether if they start the medication, then whether they're followed more closely or just continue their follow-ups, I think they need to discuss with their eye provider,” she added.

More information

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has more about glaucoma.

SOURCES: BMJ, news release, Aug. 4, 2026; British Journal of Ophthalmology, Aug. 4, 2026; Dr. Jung Lee, clinical director, Northwell Health Eye Institute at Bethpage, New York

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