Macular Degeneration and Cialis

by Thomas
(Austin, Texas)

I was diagnosed with mild Macular Degeneration two years ago. My vision has remained good (20/25). I take fish oil and ocular vitamins daily. Due to prostate cancer surgery seven years ago my urologist has prescribed Cialis. I know there are possible NAION risk factors due to ED drugs. I took these ED drugs without any problems for five years. Am I at a greater risk for NAION since I've been diagnosed with MD? I am 62 years old, no heart problems, not a diabetic, not overweight, exercise daily, not a smoker, no high blood pressure...none of the typical risk factors for NAION.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Thomas

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for the question. Glad to hear that your vision is still good and that you are being proactive with your health by taking fish oil and ocular vitamins.

Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) is an eye condition involving the loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve from insufficient blood supply.

The two main risk factors for Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Meuropathy (NAION) are:

1) The shape of one's optic disc. A certain shape causes the optic discs to be very crowded.

2). Cardiovascular Risk Factors - such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Does macular degeneration increase your risk for NAION?

Well, cardiovascular risk factors may also contribute to the development of macular degeneration. My website by-line is Better Health for Better Vision.

There is a reason for that. Just as cardiovascular risk factors cause heart disease, these same risk factors are also the cause of plaque buildup in other parts of our body as well
and damaging blood vessel walls.

Macular drusen are small yellow or white deposits of lipid (a fatty compound)and calcium that build up in the Bruch's membrane of the eye. They are usually the first signs of macular degeneration.

Another reason that macular degeneration develops is because nutrients and oxygen are not getting to the macula and waste products are not getting out and are building up in the macula.

So we see that good, healthy circulation is important for a healthy macula.

By addressing and reducing any cardiovascular risk factors that you have, may help delay the progression of macular degeneration and NAION.

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

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Macular Degeneration and Cialis

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Feb 17, 2010
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by: Anonymous

Doctor Wong,

Thank you for your prompt response and questions. The Cataract Surgeon was not my Retinal Specialist. I had pre-existing dry-type AMD in my right eye at the time of my cataract surgery.

After the second eye was completed, I was much improved from a negative 13.5-14(near sighted). however the right eye was not as good due to the pre-existing dry AMD.

With a twice repeated occurrence of wet-type AMD on the use of Cialis (the initial onset of wet type... and then after a Lucentis cycle), I asked both my Retina and Cataract Specialists whether there was any correlation. They said there was no data to support this relationship.

My simple (engineering and scientific) reasoning made me ask-- WHY NOT? A medication that stimulates blood flow/supply seems to be a likely candidate for the cause of wet AMD.

Any further thoughts? Any other occurrences of increased blood supply/flow either in the eye or elsewhere from Cialis?
Feb 14, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Cialis and AMD
by: sigmamj

Basic or dry-type AMD was diagnosed by my opthamalogist before I had cataract surgery. Immediately following the cataract surgery we saw no indication of wet AMD onset.

Some time later, i tried Cialis with good results, but after seeing a darkening in the central vision of one eye, my opthamalogist diagnosed wet-type AMD, and we began a 3 month Lucentis series. Everything stabilized, with some reduction in visual acuity in that eye.

After a few months,on trying Cialis again, the wet-type AMD re-occurred.

Although I know this is not a 'designed trial, i must ask:
"Has this been observed previously?"

Reply

Sigmamj,

I am not aware of any association specifically between wet macular degeneration and the use of Cialis. I am also not aware of any specific concerns between any of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) and the development of any eye disease, especially macular degeneration.

Several questions did come up in reading your post. Am I correct that the same doctor removed your cataract and also treated you with Lucentis? There aren't too many retinal specialists that routinely remove cataracts.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D.


Retina Specialist
Fairfax Virginia



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