More commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, sildenafil (known best by the trade name Viagra), a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, could be used to treat ocular hypotension or post-surgical shallow anterior chamber, according to new study.  

Previous studies have already confirmed sildenafil’s effect in sheep, where a 100mg or 50mg does produced a substantial increase in intraocular pressure, said study lead, ophthalmologist Dr Maria Gomez Chapo from Otamendi Hospital, Buenos Aires. “The purpose of the current study was to test the same drug in human volunteers with normal IOP.” 

Fifteen individuals, aged between 19 and 55, were enrolled in the study and were randomly administered 100mg Sildenafil or placebo. Baseline IOP was measured at 1.5 and 4 hours. The baseline IOP in the 30 eyes was 16.2 ± 1.1 and increased to 17.7 ± 0.8mmHg (p <0.01) at 90 minutes and 17.4 ± 0.6 (p <0.003) at 4 hours after the intake of the drug. Both eyes behaved in the same way and no significant changes in IOP were recorded after ingestion of the placebo, reported Dr Gomez in her virtual Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) presentation. 

The study abstract was published by Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.