As concerns continue to mount regarding the potential link between Viagra and melanoma skin cancer, a new study indicates that men who take Viagra for erectile dysfunction may experience vision problems, including sensitivity to light, blurred vision and possibly even blindness. If you took Viagra in the past to treat erectile dysfunction, and you have since experienced blindness, sensitivity to light, or another type of vision problem, our consumer advocates at the Consumer Justice Foundation can help. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by potentially dangerous medications, and can help put you in touch with a qualified lawyer who has experience handling Viagra injury claims.
In a study published in ScienceDirect, researchers from the Centre for Eye Health in Australia found that mice with a recessive genetic trait called Retinis Pigmentosa experienced reduced retinal functions that were related to Viagra exposure. Retinis Pigmentosa (RP) is a degenerative eye disease characterized by visual disturbances that can lead to blindness. Progression of the disease is typically slow, but rapid vision loss can occur if symptoms of the eye disease do not appear until carriers of the genetic trait are older. Because Viagra users are, for the most part, older men suffering from erectile dysfunction, users of the prescription medication may be at risk for this condition.
The fact that Viagra use may contribute to vision problems is not new information. The active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug, sildenafil, has in the past been linked to transient visual disturbances, which are caused by the ingredient’s inhibition of phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6), an enzyme that affects the visual phototransduction pathway. Even in mice who were not carriers of the RP gene, the researchers saw a dose-dependent decrease in electroretinogram responses that took an average of two days to return to normal. In carrier mice however, the recovery period was roughly two weeks, which led researchers to conclude that side effects of Viagra may lead to visual function degeneration over time.
Viagra is one of the most widely-used erectile dysfunction drugs on the market, but serious concerns have been raised recently about the potential link between Viagra use and an increased risk of melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer. According to a recent study published by researchers from Harvard Medical School, men who took Viagra for erectile dysfunction were 84% more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than men who did not take the medication. With new this new study linking Viagra use to vision loss and degenerative eye problems, concerns about Viagra side effects are more prevalent now than ever before. “The results of this study are significant considering approximately 1 in 50 people are likely to be carriers of recessive traits leading to retinal degeneration,” the researchers wrote.
As more information about the risk of melanoma from Viagra comes to light, Viagra maker Pfizer faces a growing number of product liability lawsuits filed on behalf of former users who believe they have been adversely affected by the medication. Prior claims have also alleged that Pfizer failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about the potential link between Viagra and vision loss, hearing loss and other serious problems. If you believe you have been harmed by side effects of Viagra, contact a knowledgeable Viagra attorney today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a Viagra lawsuit against Pfizer, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries and medical expenses.
[box type=”note” align=”aligncenter” ]Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014483514002383[/box]
