Viagra

Regular use of viagra, used to treat erectile dysfunction, can harm your vision leaving you blind, a study has claimed. Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada have found that people regularly taking the common erectile dysfunction pill may be at increased risk of sudden losses of vision, flashes of light, and dark spots, Daily Mail reported. The reason may be an increase in blood flow to the genitals which could be hindering its supply to the eyes, the researchers said. The team also named other impotence medicines - Cialis, Levitra and Spedra - as being potential triggers of eye problems. Regular users of the impotence pills are 85 per cent more likely to develop serious vision-robbing conditions, revealed the study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. "These are rare conditions, and the risk of developing one remains very low for any individual user. However, the sheer number of prescriptions dispensed each month in the US - about 20 million - means that a significant number of people could be impacted," lead researcher Dr Mahyar Etminan, an ophthalmologist at the varsity, was quoted as saying. "Regular users who find any changes in their vision should take it seriously and seek medical attention," he suggested. In the study, the team analysed insurance claim records of 213,033 men using ED pills: 123,347 men took sildenafil - the medication branded as Viagra by Pfizer, 78,609 were on tadalafil (Cialis); 6,604 took vardenafil (Levitra), and 4,473 were on avanfil (Spedra), the report said. The team followed the claim records from 2006 to 2020 to see which ones went on to develop eye conditions. None of the men had suffered eye problems in the year before they became regular users of the medication. They found that regular intake of one of the medications was 158 per cent more likely to lead to serious retinal detachment. It occurs when a collection of fluid builds up behind the back of the eye and causes the sudden appearance of spots in the field of vision and flashes of light. The men were 102 per cent more likely to suffer ischemic optic neuropathy - a compromised blood supply to the optic nerve. The condition causes a loss of central vision. And they were 44 per cent more likely to develop retinal vascular occlusion - a type of blood clot in the retina. People with it suffer a sudden loss of vision and dark spots or 'floaters' in their vision, the report said. (Agency) Read More► Sleeping With Even Low Light is Harmful for Health: Study

In a warning for first-time Viagra users, a significant study has revealed that the drug commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction may lead to persistent visual side-effects, such as light sensitivity and colour vision impairment in men who have taken the highest recommended dose of Viagra. While these effects appear to be rare, the researchers suggested that first-time Viagra users should start with a lower dose before increasing it, if necessary. Sildenafil, more commonly known by its trade name Viagra, is generally regarded as safe with limited side effects. However, a recent study in Frontiers in Neurology has highlighted the risk of persistent visual side effects. "Many men use non-prescription performance enhancing drugs to help with sexual anxiety and erectile dysfunction," said Dr Cuneyt Karaarslan of the Dunyagoz Adana hospital in Turkey. "For the vast majority of men, any side-effects will be temporary and mild. However, I wanted to highlight that persistent eye and vision problems may be encountered for a small number of users," Karaarslan added. Erectile dysfunction can have significant psychological consequences for men who are affected by it, and it can make fulfilling sexual relationships more difficult to achieve. Sildenafil became available in 1998 as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. It soon became the fastest selling drug in history, demonstrating the phenomenal demand for treatments that enhance sexual performance. Originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure, the drug dilates blood vessels and relaxes smooth muscle in the penis, making it easier to achieve and maintain an erection. The effects of the drug normally last 3-5 hours and although side-effects such as headache and blurred vision occasionally occur, they usually disappear relatively quickly. However, Dr Karaarslan noticed a pattern in 17 male patients who attended the hospital. In the new study, Karaarslan reported that the patients suffered numerous visual disturbances, including abnormally dilated pupils, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and color vision disturbances, which included intensely blue coloured vision with red/green color blindness. All 17 patients had taken sildenafil for the first time, and all took the highest recommended dose of 100 mg. None of the men had been prescribed the medication. The visual side-effects began once the drug took effect, and were still present when the men arrived at the clinic 24-48 hours later. The doctors in the clinic conducted various eye tests and monitored the patients over time to see how their symptoms developed. Fortunately, in all 17 patients the symptoms had cleared up by 21 days later, but this was doubtless a difficult experience for the men involved. These men also took the highest recommended dose of sildenafil on their first time taking the drug. Starting with a lower dose may have meant less severe side-effects, the researchers noted. In addition, taking the drug under medical supervision would likely have meant that the men would not have used such a high dose on their first time. "Although these drugs, when used under the control of physicians and at the recommended doses, provide very important sexual and mental support, uncontrolled and inappropriate doses should not be used or repeated," said Karaarslan. Lung Cancer Rates Are Rising In Young Women Eat Your Food With Hands To Enjoy It More