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As of June 2005, the FDA began investigating at least fifty reports of NAION blindness suffered by Viagra users. NAION blindness is the total loss of vision that can result from an ocular disease called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NIAON blindness was first reported in a Viagra user in 2000, yet neither Pfizer (Viagra’s maker) nor the FDA has addressed this risk until now. Viagra was approved by the FDA in 1998 to treat males with erectile dysfunction, and has been used by over 23 million men worldwide.
The correlation between Viagra and NAION blindness is the topic of heated debate in medical circles around the world, though the exact link between the two is not yet fully understood. Some experts argue that NAION blindness should be expected in a small number of the millions of Viagra users based on sheer probability and disease prevalence, while others are much more skeptical about the correlation between the two. In many reported cases, Viagra users developed the symptoms of NAION blindness within hours of taking Viagra. Pfizer defends the safety of its product by arguing that the review of 103 Viagra clinical trials has yielded no evidence of NAION blindness in any of the 13,000 Viagra users studied.
NAION is the most common form of blindness that can affect people over the age of fifty. It is estimated that approximately six thousand Americans suffer from NAION blindness each year. NAION blindness is caused by the restriction of blood flow through the optic nerve to the eye. This leads to inflammation of the optic disc, compressing the optic nerve until NAION blindness occurs. NAION blindness is sometimes referred to as a “stroke of the eye” because the blood supply to the eyes is cut off with NAION just as the blood supply to the brain is cut off during a stroke.
The symptoms of NAION blindness are often painless and may appear rapidly without notice. Seventy-five percent of all patients who develop NAION blindness report the initial symptoms of visual blurriness and impairment upon first waking up in the morning. The condition can start in one eye and lead to complete NAION blindness if both eyes are affected.
Some of the factors that can increase the risk of developing NAION blindness include: a smaller-than-average optic nerve (which can be detected through a simple eye test); diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol; all of which are factors that can lead to erectile dysfunction. Experts are urging patients with these conditions to discuss the pros and cons of Viagra use with their doctors, as they may be at an increased risk for NAION blindness. The FDA and Pfizer are currently negotiating the addition of NAION blindness warning labels on all Viagra patient product information.
Litigation against Pfizer is already underway, as Viagra users who have developed NAION blindness are beginning to seek compensation for damages allegedly caused by Viagra use. If you or a loved one has developed NAION blindness while taking Viagra, you may wish to speak with an attorney about your legal rights and options.
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