Diagnosis of glaucoma may be associated with presence of erectile dysfunction

Glaucoma was found to be a significant risk factor for the presence of erectile dysfunction in a cross-sectional study of male patients older than 40 years of age.

A patient questionnaire and retrospective chart review were used to assess 167 male patients who attended ophthalmology clinic visits. Each patient underwent an International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire to characterize erectile dysfunction (ED). The presence of glaucoma was validated by a previous diagnosis.

Using a crude odds ratio, researchers found glaucoma was a significant risk factor for ED in the study subjects, with an odds ratio of 2.58. Current smoking was the only significant covariate in the study population.

“Comparison of mean ED score between cases and controls revealed significantly lower scores (more severe ED) in patients with glaucoma, with a score of 18.3 in the glaucoma group and 22.4 in the control group (P = .02),” the study authors said.

Topical medication use by glaucoma patients and the use of a greater number of glaucoma eye drops did not have a significant association with diagnosis of ED. – by Robert Linnehan

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Law G, et al. J Glaucoma. 2016;doi:10.1097/IJG.0000000000000510.