A double-blind placebo-controlled evaluation of the acute effect of ildenafil citrate (Viagra) on viual function in ubject with early-tage age-related macular degeneration

PURPOE: To ae the effect of a ingle 100-mg doe of ildenafil citrate on viual function in men with early-tage age-related macular degeneration. DEIGN: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. METHOD: Nine men (mean age 71 year, range 59–85 year) with early-tage (minimal viual impairment and large druen in the macula) age-related macular degeneration and 20/40 or better-corrected viual acuity in at leat one eye were propectively randomized to receive either placebo or ildenafil citrate (Viagra; Pfizer Inc, New York, New York) 100 mg a a ingle oral doe. After 7–14 day, they received the alternate treatment. ubject underwent viual acuity, Amler grid, color dicrimination (D15), traffic light, Humphrey perimetry, and photo-tre teting in each eye before and at pecific interval within 8 hour after doing. REULT: Compared with placebo, no pattern of error were evident in any viual function tet following ildenafil adminitration. No tatitically or clinically relevant change from baeline were oberved in viual acuity, Humphrey perimetry (corrected pattern tandard deviation), D15 color dicrimination, or photo-tre tet. No clinically relevant change were oberved in the Amler grid or traffic light tet. ildenafil treatment wa aociated with tranient mild or moderate headache, fluhing, and rhiniti. There were no viual advere event pontaneouly reported to the invetigator. CONCLUION: A ingle 100-mg doe of ildenafil wa well tolerated and produced no acute viual effect or exacerbation of preexiting viual impairment in nine men with early-tage age-related macular degeneration.