Originally published February 21 2006
British study assesses the risks impotency drugs pose to patients' eyes
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The British Journal of Ophthalmology has published a study that links the use of impotency drugs like Viagra and Cialis with non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy, which can cause blindness in one eye.
A new study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology is the latest to suggest a link between impotency drugs and a condition which could cause sudden blindness in one eye; non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy (Naion).
The authors recommended doctors discuss the risk with their patients.
However, the drugs' manufacturers have criticised the study as too small and said erectile dysfunction and Naion had many of the same risk factors, making it difficult to know if the drug or the underlying condition was to blame.
Last year, the United States Food and Drug Administration investigated reports of 38 cases of blindness among users of Viagra and four among Cialis users.
At the time the FDA said it was not possible to determine whether the oral medicines were the cause of the eyesight loss or whether it was due to other factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
In the latest study by Alabama University researchers, 76 eye patients from one US clinic were asked about their lifestyle, their history of heart attacks, diabetes and high blood pressure, and if they had used Viagra or Cialis.
The researchers found no overall increased risk of Naion in the group which had used the impotence drugs.
But it did find "a strong and statistically significant" risk amongst Viagra and Cialis users who had suffered a heart attack and a small statistically "borderline" increase in risk for those with high blood pressure.
Christchurch urologist Sharon English said the drugs could not be prescribed to men who were taking nitrate-based medicines for angina so many of those who had suffered a heart attack were excluded.
Barbara Thompson, who spent 16 years as a nurse counsellor for sexual dysfunction in Christchurch, had "very very rarely" heard reports of patients suffering visual disturbances after taking Viagra.
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