|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Older Men Taking Viagra Lose Vision in Small Test
March 30, 2005 - A condition that causes permanent
vision loss has been diagnosed in a small group of older men who have
taken the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. The condition, nonarteritic
ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), described as "stroke of the eye,"
occurs when blood flow is cut off to the optic nerve, which injures the
nerve and results in permanent vision loss, according to
Ophthalmologists at the University of Minnesota.
Seven patients, aged between 50 and 69 years, had
typical features of NAION within 36 hours after ingestion of Viagra for
erectile dysfunction. Seven similar cases have been previously reported.
These cases were published in the March 2005 issue of the Journal of
Neuro-ophthalmology.
"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, M.D., 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."
All of the patients had at least one
arteriosclerotic risk factor, including hypertension, diabetes,
hypercholesterolemia, or hyperlipidemia. All of the patients also had a
low cup to disk ratio, which is a way doctors measure the small circular
indentation where the optic nerve connects to the eyeball. The low cup
to disk ratio means that the blood vessels and nerves are tightly
bundled together into the small space in the back of the eye.
"Viagra regulates a chemical in the body to
constrict the arteries. This constriction may cut off the blood flow to
the optic nerve, especially in people with a low cup to disk ratio,
where the blood vessels and nerves are tightly bundled provoking NAION,"
says Pomeranz.
The onset of NAION within hours after ingestion of
Viagra in 14 patients supports an association between the use of the
drug and NAION. Based on the fact that 14 cases of NAION have now been
reported soon after the use of Viagra, the researchers believe that
ophthalmologists should ask all men with NAION about the use of Viagra,
and recommend that patients with a history of NAION in one eye be
cautioned that Viagra may increase the risk of NAION in the fellow eye.
Information Source: The Academic Health Center
is home to the University of Minnesota's six health professional schools
and colleges as well as several health-related centers and institutes.
Founded in 1851, the University is one of the oldest and largest land
grant institutions in the country. The AHC prepares the new health
professionals who improve the health of communities, discover and
deliver new treatments and cures, and strengthen the health economy.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
