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Updated: May 25, 2026
07:23
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
Optical coherence tomography in tadalafil-associated retinal toxicity
Florence Coscas1, Gabriel Coscas, Ilaria Zucchiatti
1Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France.
European Journal of Ophthalmology
|February 14, 2012
Summary
Tadalafil (Cialis) use can cause temporary vision problems due to reversible damage to the eye's photoreceptors. Symptoms and damage resolved after discontinuing the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Tadalafil (Cialis) is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor used for erectile dysfunction.
- Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are known to cause minor, temporary visual disturbances.
Observation:
- A case study investigated visual disturbances linked to tadalafil use.
- Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) were employed for examination.
Findings:
- Spectral domain OCT revealed a hyperreflective area and pseudo-serous retinal detachment (SRD) in the parafoveal photoreceptors.
- The photoreceptors' internal segment-outer segment (IS-OS) interface showed thickening and hyperreflectivity.
- Discontinuation of tadalafil led to the resolution of these OCT findings and associated visual symptoms within two months.
Implications:
- Tadalafil use may be associated with reversible photoreceptor damage.
- This damage can manifest as specific visual symptoms and OCT findings.
- Ophthalmologists should consider tadalafil as a potential cause of such visual disturbances.
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