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LEVITRA & NAION |
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NON-ARTERITIC ANTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY or NAION is a medical condition of the eye. A person suffering from NAION has a swelling in the optic nerve which leads to a rapid diminution in vision, even though he may not experience any pain. NAION often hits in the morning with vision loss and gets worsen in a period of one or two weeks. NAION is caused by the sudden blockage in the optic nerve due to the increased blood flow.
In extremely rare cases, PDE5 inhibitors like Vardenafil, Sildenafil and Tadalafil may cause NAION; though the reasons have not been established till date. But all the cases of NAION cannot be attributed to the PDE5 inhibitor medications alone, as NAION is found to occur in many people who have never taken the PDE5 inhibitors.
People who are prone to suffer from NAION generally have one or more of the following medical conditions:
- Heart disease
- 50 years and above age
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking habit
- Prior eye problems
This nullifies the commonly believed notion that Levitra is the main cause of NAION in men. NAION patients would have suffered from the same ailment even if they haven’t taken Levitra at any point of time in their lives. It is just a matter of coincidence with patients of erectile dysfunction and NAION falling under the same age category.
As per the ruling of the FDA, Bayer and GlaxosmithKline have included information on the possible occurrence of NAION on the Levitra labels. Nevertheless, if you face a sudden vision loss, discontinue the use of Levitra and seek emergency medical help. |
