Abstract
The acute effects of 50 mg of sildenafil on tear functions were evaluated in 12 impotent patients. Mean tear breakup time, cotton thread, and Schirmer I tests were 19.42±6.45 s, 13.92±6.63 mm, and 16.58±12.19 mm, respectively before sildenafil and 20.33±10.40 s, 10.92±6.14 mm, and 18.08±12.36 mm, respectively, 1 hour after sildenafil. The results suggest that sildenafil does not adversely affect tear functions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Marmor MF. Sildenafil (Viagra) and Ophthalmology. Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:518–519.
Yajima T, Yajima Y, Koppiker N, Grunwald EJ, Laties AM. No clinical important effects on intraocular pressure after short-term administration of sildenafil citrate (Viagra), Am J Ophthalmol 2000: 129:675–676.
Sponsel WE, Paris G, Sandoval SS, et al. Sildenafil and ocular perfusion. New Eng J Med 2000;342:1680.
Vobig MA, Klotz T, Staak M, Schmidt KUB, Engelmann U, Walter P. Retinal side-effects of sildenafil. Lancet 1999;353:375.
Zrenner E. No cause for alarm over retinal side-effects of sildenafil. Lancet 1999;353:340–341.
Laties AM, Koppiker NP, Smith MD. Characterisation of visual adverse events after dosing with sildenafil citrate. [ARVO Abstracts]. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2000;41:S592 (abstract no. 3148-B246).
Millar TJ, Koutavas H. Analysis of phosphodiesterase isoenzymes in the ocular glands of the rabbit. In: Sullivan DA, et al., ed., Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes, Vol. 2, New York: Plenum Press, 1998.
Evans V, Willcox MD, Millar TJ. Modulation of tear film protein secretion with phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2000;28:208–211.
Laties A, Zrenner E. Viagra (sildenafil citrate) and ophthalmology. Prog Retin Eye Res 2002;21:485–506.
Luu JK, Chappelow AV, Mcculley TJ, Marmor MF. Acute effects of sildenafil on the electroretinogram and multifocal electroretinogram. Am J Ophthalmol 2001;132:388–394.
Setter SM, Iltz JL, Fincham JE, Campbell RK, Baker DE. Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction. Ann Pharmacother 2005;39:1286–1295.
Schiavi RC, Rehman J. Sexual and aging. In: Melman A, ed. Impotence, The Urologic Clinics of North America, Vol. 22, San Francisco; WB Saunders, 1995; 711–723.
Oguz H, Verit A, Ozkul Y, Gurkan T, Ciftci H. No effects of longterm sildenafil treatment on ocular functions. Ann Ophthalmol. 2005;37:85–90.
Sullivan DA, Wickham LA, Rocha EM, et al. Androgens and dry eye in Sjögrn’s syndrome. Ann NY Acad Sci 1999;876: 312–324.
Sullivan DA, Sullivan BD, Evans JE, et al. Androgen deficiency, Meibomian gland dysfunction, and evaporative dry eye. Ann NY Acad Sci 2002;966:211–222.
Kanski JJ. Disorders of the conjunctiva. Clinical Ophthalmology, 4th ed., Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1999, p.81.
Rheinstrom SD, Dry eye. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology, London. Mosby International, 1999;14.1–14.6.
Sakamoto R, Bennett ES, Henry VA, et al. The phenol red thread tear test: A cross-cultural study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1993; 34:3510–3514.
Oguz H, Karadede S, Gurler B, Kilic A: “Cotton thread” testinin (fenol kirmizisi emdirilmis iplik testi) klinik olarak kullanilmasi [The clinical use of cotton thread test (phenol red impregnated thread test)]. Turk J Ophthalmol 2001;31:465–469 (in Turkish).
Marmor MF, Kessler R. Sildenafil (Viagra) and ophthalmology. Surv Ophthalmol 1999;44:153–162.
Sharlip ID. Evaluation and nonsurgical management of erectile dysfunction. In: Office management of urologic problems. The Urologic Clinics of North America, vol 25, San Francisco, CA: Pan Pacific Urology, 1998, pp. 647–659.
McCulley TJ, Lam BL, Marmor MF, Hoffman KB, Luu JK, Feuer WJ. Acute effects of Sildenafil (Viagra) on blue-on-yellow and white-on-white Humphrey perimetry. J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2000; 20:227–228.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oguz, H., Verit, A., Gurkan, T. et al. The acute effects of sildenafil on tear functions. Ann Ophthalmol 37, 281–284 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/AO:37:4:281
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/AO:37:4:281