Men with open-angle glaucoma can take sildenafil without suffering any deterioration in their eye condition.

There's been concern over whether the drug sildenafil, which is used to treat sexual dysfunction in men, might raise intra-ocular pressure in those with glaucoma. To settle the question, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania tested the drug with 15 men who had raised intra-ocular pressure and visual problems associated with glaucoma.

All the men had their eye problem under control with eye drops. They took either sildenafil or palcebo on two separate days, so each got both options alternately. The researchers measured intra-ocular pressure hourly for five hours after administration. No signficant rise in pressure was seen - for either sildenafil or placebo. It's reassuring news for men who happen to have an erection problem and glaucoma. They can consider sildenafil without fear of adversely affecting their visual problem - with medical advice, of course.

Source

American Journal of Ophthalmology December 2001