TUESDAY, Jan. 24 (HealthDay News) -- The use of erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil) is associated with an increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in men with a history of myocardial infarction or hypertension, according to a study published in the February issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Gerald McGwin, Jr., Ph.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues conducted a retrospective, matched case-control study of 38 males with NAION and 38 controls. Using a telephone questionnaire, the researchers gathered self-reported information about past and current use of Viagra, Cialis or both.
Among the 38 NAION cases, the men were no more likely than the controls of a similar age to report use of the two drugs. However, those who had a history of myocardial infarction were over 10 times more likely to use Viagra or Cialis.
"Patients with a history of myocardial infarction or hypertension who are prescribed Viagra or Cialis should be warned about the elevated risk of NAION associated with the use of these medications," the authors conclude. "Though NAION is a rare condition, the large number of men using Viagra or Cialis suggests that, should an association truly exist, the incidence of NAION could rise dramatically."
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