Solve One Problem, Inherit Another

"These medications address erectile dysfunction by improving blood flow, but we know that they can also hinder blood flow in other parts of the body."

"So although our study doesn't prove cause-and-effect, there is a mechanism by which these medications could conceivably lead to these problems."

Dr.Mahyar Etminan. Associate Professor: Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Drug Safety (all therapeutics areas) Eye and Visual System Diseases, University of British Columbia

"However, it must be remembered that the conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction, such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure also affect the ocular blood vessels."

"Hence this may simply be an association of two conditions, rather than one causing the other."

Dr. Robert MacLaren, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Oxford Eye Hospital

Tablet of Viagra & sildenafil citrate AP/Richard Drew

A new study from University of British Columbia researchers, published in the journal Jama Opthalmology, has linked Viagra with doubling the risk of eye conditions severe enough, albeit rare, that can be the cause of blindness. The research found that people who use pills such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Stendra came away with a 2.5-fold risk rise in serious retinal detachment.

 

This group had twice the chance of suffering from ischemic optic neuropathy, as well, a condition that compromises blood supply to the optic nerve, along with the risk of retinal vascular occlusion; a blood clot in the veins or arteries of the retina, rose by 44 percent. These are all conditions that can lead to sight loss, but the researchers stress they are very rare occurrences.

 

An analysis of the health insurance claim records of 213,000 men, regular users of common erectile medications, was linked to these findings. It remained unclear, however, whether it was the medications that caused the identified problems, or whether there were underlying health conditions increasing the risk of impotence that might be the cause. 

 

The scientists took account of other conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, all conditions with the potential to increase such risks. Other experts, critical of the results point out that the issue requires a randomized controlled study to indicate whether the increased risk was indeed caused by the medication. Dr. MacLaren of University of Oxford pointed out that phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as Viagra have proven an effective treatment for men with erectile dysfunction. 

 

The risk of developing one of three serious eye conditions increases by 85 per cent for regular users of common erectile dysfunction (ED) medications such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Stendra, new UBC research has found.  UBC