ePillz.com - ED Treatment and the Risk of Optic Nerve Damage

ED Treatment and the Risk of Optic Nerve Damage

November 24 - British Journal of Ophthalmology –

New data have been added to the discussion of the potential risk to develop the optic nerve damage by those people, who use modern oral pills in treating erectile dysfunction (ED).

As it is known, several cases of sudden and untreatable vision loss cases in people, taking ED pills, have been reported for the past years. The condition is called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy or NAION and is the most common cause of vision loss in individuals older than 40 years.

The actual origin and cause of NAION is not cleared out completely. Though, doctors say that it is due to the blockage of blood flow to the optic nerve. The risk factors to develop NAION include atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia.

The 90th issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology describes a small study, initiated to add some new facts to the issue of possible association between optic nerve damage and ED pills. 76 men participated in the survey and a half of them had NAION. Both groups were asked about their lifestyle, history of heart diseases, diabetes as well as their use of ED pills.

The results of the study showed a significant association between NAION and ED pills usage in those men, who had a history of heart diseases, namely myocardial infarction.

Due to the fact that this study was a very small one, authors did not claim the obtained results to be substantial for making the decision pro or contra ED pills usage. Though, they recommend patients to tell their physicians about the cases of heart attacks or hypertension when asking for the prescription of ED pills.

After the appearance of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra and their approval for the use in treating male erectile dysfunction, these drugs have gained a large popularity all over the world. Though only several cases of vision loss after the administration of ED pills have been reported officially, they have given a start to a serious discussion of this issue among doctors and pharmacists.

It is worthy to highlight the fact that in spite of the small number of NAION cases among users of ED pills, American Food and Drug Administration has approved new labels for Viagra, Cialis and Levitra in July, 2005, with a warning about the possible eyesight loss (NAION).

FDA says: “We do not know at this time if Viagra, Cialis or Levitra causes NAION. NAION also happens in men who do not take these medications” and recommends to stop using these medications and get immediate medical help in case of eyesight loss.

On the other hand, Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, says that, if ED pills were associated with NAION, a much greater number of cases would have been reported by now, taking into consideration the total number of people, using one of ED oral medications.

Nick

External resources
http://bjo.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/90/2/127
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/sildenafilPIS.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=36249