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A case of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy of a male with family history of the disease after receiving sildenafil

Authors Felekis T, Asproudis I, Katsanos K, Tsianos

Published 7 October 2011 Volume 2011:5 Pages 1443—1445

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S21243

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



T Felekis1, I Asproudis1, K Katsanos2, EV Tsianos2
1University Eye Clinic of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece; 2First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

Abstract: A 51-year-old male was referred to the University Eye Clinic of Ioannina with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) 12 hours after receiving sildenafil citrate (Viagra®). Examination for possible risk factors revealed mild hypercholesterolemia. Family history showed that his father had suffered from bilateral NAION. Although a cause-and-effect relationship is difficult to prove, there are reports indicating an association between the use of erectile dysfunction agents and the development of NAION. Physicians might need to investigate the presence of family history of NAION among systemic or vascular predisposing risk factors before prescribing erectile dysfunction drugs.

Keywords: sildenafil, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, erectile dysfunction drugs, family history

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