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Pfizer asserts no increased risk of blindness with Viagra
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NEW YORK — A review by Pfizer of all post-marketing ocular event reports for sildenafil citrate found no evidence of increased risk of blindness among patients taking the drug, according to a press release from Pfizer.
Pfizer said discussions are progressing with the Food and Drug Administration to update the labeling of Viagra (sildenafil citrate, Pfizer) to reflect “rare reports of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in some men who have used the medicine,” the company said.
“There is no evidence that Viagra causes blindness or any other serious ocular condition,” said Joseph Feczko, MD, Pfizer’s chief medical officer, said in the press release. “Men taking Viagra are at no greater risk for blindness — including vision loss from NAION — than men of similar age and health not taking the medicine.”
According to Pfizer, most of the reported NAION cases occurred in Viagra users with underlying anatomic or vascular risk factors associated with the development of NAION.