–June 13, 2005
Several cases of vision loss have caused the FDA to direct its attention towards Viagra and Cialis recently. The FDA is investigating a possible connection between PDE-5 inhibitors and a form of blindness known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Patients affected have pre-existing hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia.
Reports estimate that the FDA is investigating 42 cases of blindness: 38 among users of Viagra, and 4 among Cialis users. The Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology has reported an additional seven cases. Six of the seven patients experienced vision loss within 24 hours after ingesting Viagra.
Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, has claimed that NAION was not found to be a side effect during the 103 Viagra clinical trials, which included 13,000 patients. Pfizer claims that there is no evidence showing that NAION occurred more frequently in men taking Viagra than men of similar age and health who did not take Viagra. The company added that outside of clinical trials, 23 million men have taken sildenafil over the past 7 years, and reports of visual field loss due to NAION have been “extremely rare.”
For more information on the Viagra side effects, please contact us to confer with a Viagra lawyer and learn your legal rights and options.
