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Nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)

NAION, or "stroke of the eye," occurs when blood flow is cut off to an optic nerve. The sudden loss of blood flow injures the nerve and can result in permanent partial or total blindness in patients with arteriosclerotic risk factors. Arteriosclerotic risk factors increase the likelihood that a patient will suffer a stroke, and include the following conditions:

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Diabetes
  • Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)
  • Hyperlipidemia (high fat content in the blood)

NAION Symptoms

Approximately 6000 Americans are affected with NAION each year. Most of those cases are attributable to diabetes, macular degeneration, or cataracts. Patients usually experience a painless swelling of the optic nerve before losing their vision. About 20% of patients affected with NAION in one eye will experience it in the other eye at a later time. Now NAION is linked to erectile dysfunction drugs.

NAION is usually first noticed upon awakening to find blurred or darkened vision. The patient may experience a loss of their vision field, whereby their range of vision is lessened, as if someone had pulled curtains in close to their eyes. Some patients report seeing "lightning bolts" at the corner of their vision. Patients may experience a generalized headache and sweating.

The optic nerve head has swollen, and there may be splinter hemorrhages visible in the eyeball. The visual impairment is usually mildly to moderately impairing, and may progress slowly over the first few weeks. Over the course of months, the disc swelling gives way to optic atrophy, and the nerve is no longer able to function.

Patients who suffered NAION while taking erectile dysfunction drugs experienced partial loss of their central and/or peripheral vision. While the blindness was not total in all cases, the blindness was permanent in all. Most men experienced the blindness in only one eye, but it has been reported in both eyes in at least one patient. One man described the blindness as having a "shade coming down" over his vision.

“Disc at Risk”

Patients are also at risk for NAION if they have a low cup to disk ratio, which is a way doctors measure the small circular indentation where the optic nerve connects to the eyeball. A 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, and may explain why NAION is so disabling. Cup to disk ratio can be determined during a routine eye exam, and is considered the most important risk factor in contracting NAION.

Viagra linked to NAION in 38 patients

For years it's been known that Viagra can cause a small number of patients to experience color changes and blurring in their vision. They may see things as shades of blue or shades of green. These vision changes may be a sign that a patient is at risk for NAION, because a low cup to disk ratio might be responsible for those vision changes.

Viagra regulates a chemical in the body to constrict the arteries. This constriction may cut off the blood flow, provoking NAION and causing blindness. Fourteen patients who suffered permanent blindness exhibited NAION within 36 hours after ingestion of Viagra.

Cialis and Levitra also linked to NAION

Cialis is manufactured and marketed by Eli Lilly. In May 2005, Eli Lilly changed the adverse warnings section of Cialis' label to confirm to FDA requirements because Cialis was linked to 4 cases of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a "stroke of the eye" that occurs when blood flow is restricted to the optic nerve, causing partial or total loss of vision. While some vision loss has been mild, NAION is a permanent, irreversible condition. Levitra was linked to one additional case of NAION.

Those most at risk for NAION while taking erectile dysfunction drugs are patients older than 50 who also have the following conditions:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • High cholesterol

How We Can Help

If you or someone you love has suffered NAION after taking Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra, consider consulting a personal injury lawyer to determine if you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering. There is never any obligation to hire us, and the conversation about your case is free. NAION begins as a relatively painless annoyance, but its effects are permanent.

Learn More about Viagra

Viagra is the most popular pill in the U.S., according to its manufactuer, Pfizer, Inc. Viagra has long been known to cause visual side effects and has now been linked to NAION, a “stroke of the eye” that causes permanent loss of vision.