With Elmiron lawsuits on the rise, one important question has come up repeatedly: Does Elmiron cause blindness?
Attorney Jerry Parker, founding partner of the law firm Parker Waichman LLP, addresses Elmiron blindness risk here:
Video source: Can Elmiron cause blindness?
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Can Elmiron Cause Blindness?
Yes. Elmiron can cause serious and permanent damage to the retina, which can also cause a loss of vision, according to recent studies.
The reported side effects of Elmiron include:
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty adjusting to dim lighting
- Problems with dark adaptation
- Glare
- Blind spots
- Muted, less vivid colors
- Night blindness
- Metamorphopsia
In the long run, especially after taking Elmiron for more than 3 years, many of these eye problems can cause blindness.
If I’m Having Trouble Reading, Is That Enough to Sue?
No. However, that may be indicative of damage to your retina caused by Elmiron.
In order for us to bring a lawsuit on your behalf, we have to have the imaging studies that show that you have damage to your retina caused by Elmiron.
So if you have any of the symptoms of Elmiron-related damage, go to a retinal specialist, give them the history of you taking Elmiron, give them the history of your problems with your eyes, and let the retinal specialist and you decide whether you should undergo those imaging studies that can confirm if it is Elmiron-related.
One thing that is extremely important that has been brought out by a recent study, as well as noted in the new labeling that has been published by the defendants who are selling Elmiron, is that the damage to your retina can occur long after you stop taking the drug.
That’s correct. You could have stopped taking the drug ten years ago, and the damage to your retina could be happening today. I think there is one study that actually noted that a person in the study was still having damage to their retina ten years later.
How Does Elmiron Cause Damage to the Retina?
Without getting into any confidential information, based upon the published literature, including the literature published in ophthalmology magazines, retina magazines, and even the updated package insert that was recently released in June 2020, many people who have reported Elmiron-related damage to their retina have taken Elmiron for about three years or longer.
However, we don’t have enough information to say that three years is the minimum. There have been some people who have documented Elmiron-related retinal damage that have taken Elmiron for less time.
It appears that the cumulative dose over the years, when you add up all of the Elmiron that you have taken, people who have taken more Elmiron than others seem to be at greater risk.
However, there are people who have taken relatively little Elmiron who have also reported having Elmiron-related retinal damage.
And what’s really important is you need to have follow-up retinal examinations after you stop taking the drug. Because it’s been reported, not only in ophthalmology magazines but in the labeling that just came out in June 2020, that damages to the retina can occur after you stop taking the drug.
Should I Get an Eye Exam? What Type Specifically?
Well I’m a lawyer, not a doctor. But if I was taking Elmiron and I had any of these side effects, then I would go to my ophthalmologist and have a discussion.
And part of the discussion would be, should I see a retina specialist? And should I get the fundus autofluorescence imaging? Or the optical coherence tomography? Or the near-infrared fundus reflectance? Or all three? These are all helpful in determining whether the injuries that I have were caused by Elmiron.
Does Elmiron Cause Macular Degeneration?
No. Macular degeneration is a common misdiagnosis of the damage to the retina caused by Elmiron. While macular degeneration is damage to the retina, it does involve damage to the retina, and it does cause center field of vision damage, it involves different methods of action.
It involves leaky blood vessels that grow under the retina or retinal detachment where it deteriorates. The injury caused by Elmiron is completely different.
Elmiron Blindness FAQ
Can Elmiron also cause blindness?
Yes, based on recent studies, Elmiron causes a condition called maculopathy (i.e., serious and permanent damage to the retina), which can in turn cause blindness.
If I’m having trouble reading, is that enough to sue?
No, but if you were taking Elmiron (even if it was long ago), it can indicate more serious Elmiron side effects, so talk to your ophthalmologist.
Does Elmiron cause macular degeneration
No, this is a common misdiagnosis of Elmiron-related eye damage. If you were taking Elmiron and have any of these side effects, ask your ophthalmologist if your eye condition may have been misdiagnosed.
How does Elmiron cause damage to the retina?
According to published studies, the longer you were taking Elmiron, the higher the risk of you developing maculopathy, Elmiron-related retina damage. If you were ever taking Elmiron (even if it was ten years ago), have a discussion with your ophthalmologist to determine whether your eye problems may be related to Elmiron side effects.
Should I get an eye exam, and what type specifically?
If you were taking Elmiron and have any of these side effects, go to your ophthalmologist and have a discussion. Ask if you need to have your retina examined using at least one of the following technologies:
- Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- Near-infrared fundus reflectance (NIR)
For more information on Elmiron lawsuits check out:
- Elmiron lawsuit criteria
- Elmiron side effects
- Elmiron class action lawsuit
- Elmiron recall
- Elmiron makers
- Elmiron-associated maculopathy
- Elmiron lawsuit settlement amount
- Elmiron timeline
Don’t Delay: File Your Defective Drug Injury Claim Against the Makers of Elmiron
If Elmiron has harmed you or a member of your family and you are interested in filing a lawsuit to recover monetary compensation, contact Parker Waichman by calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529) for a free case review today.
