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Vision Loss Reported in a Few Viagra Users

Source: Pfizer
Published: May 31, 2005

The Food and Drug Administration said last week it is examining rare reports of partial vision loss in some men taking impotence drugs Viagra (made by Pfizer) and Cialis (made by El Lilly & Co.).

Pfizer said outside of clinical trials, Viagra has been used by more than 23 million men worldwide over the past seven years and reports of visual field loss due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) are extremely rare.

�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,� Pfizer said in a statement.

NAION is the most common acute optic nerve disease in adults over age 50 and it shares a number of common risk factors with erectile dysfunction: age over 50, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes.

�Most of the reported cases in which NAION has occurred in men taking Viagra have involved patients with underlying anatomic or vascular risk factors associated with the development of NAION,� the drug maker said.

Pfizer said it is in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration to update the Viagra label to reflect these rare ocular occurrences.

Read Full Story at Pfizer

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