The Effects of Tadalafil on Optical Coherence Tomography, Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Ganglion Cell...

To investigate the short and long-term effects of Tadalafil on macular and peri-optic disc choroidal thickness, retinal vascular density, and GCC thickness in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Patients with erectile dysfunction who were candidates to treat with 10 mg of Tadalafil every other day and didn't use any type of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5I) in the previous 6 months and had normal eye exams were included. Macular and peri-optic disc choroidal thickness, superficial and deep retinal vascular density, and Macular Ganglion Cell Complex (GCC) thickness were measured before (baseline), one day, and 3 months after Tadalafil treatment. The measurements before and after treatment were compared.

Thirty-one eyes of 16 patients with a mean age of 53.7 (42 to 68) years were included. After Tadalafil consumption, the choroidal thickness in the sub-macular (13.8%) and peri-optic disc (14.9%) area and also the vascular density of superficial (9.6%) and deep (9.8%) retinal capillary plexus was increased on the first day. After 3 months, we found a decremental pattern in all initially increased parameters, although sub-macular and peri-papillary choroidal thickness are yet thicker than the baseline. The retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) average thickness was not significantly changed, neither on the first day nor after three months.

Tadalafil can increase the retinal vascular density and choroidal thickness early after initial consumption but after 3 months the initial increment tend to decrease.