Found this article issued on April 1st.
Viagra Linked to Eye Condition
Scientist links erectile dysfunction drug to 14 cases of a condition that can lead to blindness.
April 1, 2005
At least 14 men taking erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra have developed a serious eye problem that can cause blindness, according to a scientist whose research was published in the current Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis found that some patients developed a condition called nonartheritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can lead to permanent loss of vision.
The problem develops when blood flow is reduced to the nerve bundle that sends images to the brain, called the optic nerve. Just as a blood clot can cut off the blood supply to parts of the brain, causing a stroke by starving the nerve cells of oxygen, this condition has been described as “stroke of the eye.”
The journal article identified seven cases, which came on top of seven previous cases, bringing the total to 14. In all of the most recent cases, patients developed NAION within a day and a half of swallowing Pfizer’s little blue pill. However, all seven had high blood pressure and three of the patients had preexisting eye problems that could have increased their risk of developing the problem.
“For years, we’ve known that some men who take Viagra will experience temporary color changes in their vision and see things as blue or green,” said Howard Pomeranz, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. “NAION is a much more serious condition because it can lead to permanent vision loss.”
Pfizer noted that Viagra has been prescribed to more than 23 million men worldwide and that over 130 clinical trials were used to test the drug’s safety. Pfizer’s stock closed down $0.22 to $26.15 on a day when the broader market also fell.
Dr. Pomeranz said Cialis and Levitra, which compete in the ED market with Viagra, could cause the same problem.
“At this point, there are not enough data to support performing an ophthalmologic exam on every patient being considered,” Dr. Pomeranz said to Reuters, noting that these cases could be the “tip of the iceberg.”
This study is significant because the quick onset of NAION after Viagra ingestion supports a close link between the drug and the condition. The researchers recommend that eye doctors ask their patients with NAION about Viagra use and caution them about possible increased risk of the problem in the other eye.
From this link
Viagra Linked to Eye Condition
Scientist links erectile dysfunction drug to 14 cases of a condition that can lead to blindness.
April 1, 2005
At least 14 men taking erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra have developed a serious eye problem that can cause blindness, according to a scientist whose research was published in the current Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis found that some patients developed a condition called nonartheritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can lead to permanent loss of vision.
The problem develops when blood flow is reduced to the nerve bundle that sends images to the brain, called the optic nerve. Just as a blood clot can cut off the blood supply to parts of the brain, causing a stroke by starving the nerve cells of oxygen, this condition has been described as “stroke of the eye.”
The journal article identified seven cases, which came on top of seven previous cases, bringing the total to 14. In all of the most recent cases, patients developed NAION within a day and a half of swallowing Pfizer’s little blue pill. However, all seven had high blood pressure and three of the patients had preexisting eye problems that could have increased their risk of developing the problem.
“For years, we’ve known that some men who take Viagra will experience temporary color changes in their vision and see things as blue or green,” said Howard Pomeranz, associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. “NAION is a much more serious condition because it can lead to permanent vision loss.”
Pfizer noted that Viagra has been prescribed to more than 23 million men worldwide and that over 130 clinical trials were used to test the drug’s safety. Pfizer’s stock closed down $0.22 to $26.15 on a day when the broader market also fell.
Dr. Pomeranz said Cialis and Levitra, which compete in the ED market with Viagra, could cause the same problem.
“At this point, there are not enough data to support performing an ophthalmologic exam on every patient being considered,” Dr. Pomeranz said to Reuters, noting that these cases could be the “tip of the iceberg.”
This study is significant because the quick onset of NAION after Viagra ingestion supports a close link between the drug and the condition. The researchers recommend that eye doctors ask their patients with NAION about Viagra use and caution them about possible increased risk of the problem in the other eye.
From this link
