Reliable studies have established a link between a medication used for the treatment of interstitial cystitis and loss of vision.  Interstitial Cystitis medication has been linked to maculopathy which can cause vision loss and can lead to blindness.  This medication has been prescribed to millions of people worldwide since being placed on the market in 1996. It is the only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of painful bladder syndrome.  We at The Yost Legal Group are representing individuals who were prescribed medication to treat their Interstitial Cystitis and have suffered significant eye damage or blindness.  If you suspect you have been harmed after taking medication for Interstitial Cystitis, contact the experienced lawyers at The Yost Legal Group today for a free initial consultation.

The Medication Was Approved For Use To Treat Interstitial Cystitis Of The Bladder

A prescription medication used to treat patients who have Interstitial Cystitis of the bladder is approved by the Food & Drug Administration to treat this painful bladder syndrome.  It is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of this condition. When the manufacturer became aware of the association between the use of their medication and retinal damage to the eye, they decided not to warn doctors or their customers. As a result, countless patients continued to take their Interstitial Cystitis medication which placed them at risk for permanent eye injury.  Interstitial Cystitis medication users are now getting tested for maculopathy.

Long-Term  Use Has Been Linked To Maculopathy

The first public report of the link between the medication used to treat Interstitial Cystitis and eye injury was a publication of a 2018 case series.  Retinal Maculopathy was first identified in the publication by doctors at the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta.  They reported that six female patients suddenly were diagnosed with pigmentary maculopathy after long-term use of the medication to treat their Interstitial Cystitis. In a follow-up study the following year, the Emory Eye Center physicians conducted a retrospective review of 219 patients, which confirmed the association between the use of this medication and vision loss.

Additional Research

Additional research confirms the link between medication used to treat Interstitial Cystitis and Retinal Maculopathy, Pigmentary Retinal Maculopathy, and Macular Degeneration.  Recently, Kaiser Permanente in California did an investigation of its patients who were long-term users of this medication.  They scanned their database and found people who had used the medication for 5 years or longer.  The patients were invited to have eye exams.  The result was that 1 out of 4 people who used medication to treat their Interstitial Cystitis were diagnosed with Retinal Maculopathy.

What is Maculopathy?

Maculopathy (“Retinal Pigmentary Maculopathy”) describes a number of disorders to the central part of the retina, the macula.  Retinal Maculopathy causes the pigment cells in the retina to change to a darker color.  When problems in the macula begin, they must be treated promptly.  If they are not addressed right away, long-term vision impairment can result.  Even permanent vision loss can occur.  Diagnosis of Pigmentary Retinal Maculopathy can be made by an appointment with your ophthalmologist.  If you are a long-term user of medication for the treatment of your Interstitial Cystitis you should consider being tested for maculopathy as soon as possible.

What are the Side Effects of Medication Induced Retinal Maculopathy?

Long-term users have reportedly experienced a series of vision-related symptoms.  They include the following:

• Difficulty reading
• Difficulty adapting vision in low-light situations
• Permanent vision loss
• Vision irregularities
• Pain in the eye region
• Blindness
• Difficulty seeing close up
• Dark spots in the center of the vision field

When Did the Manufacturer Know About the Risks of this Medication?

Janssen Pharmaceuticals is a division of Johnson & Johnson.  They are the current manufacturer and marketer of the medication which causes Retinal Maculopathy.  Despite having had over 100 reports of vision problems over a 20-year period, Janssen Pharmaceuticals did not warn doctors who prescribed the drug or the patients who took their medication about the possible risk of vision impairment.  Responsible drug manufacturers usually add warnings to their package insert once the receive far fewer reports of serious injury. They have a responsibility to make this information available so patients and their doctors can decide whether to use a medication based on the best information available. Despite complaints of these adverse events, Janssen Pharmaceuticals decided to withhold the information about the connection between use of its Interstitial Cystitis medication and Maculopathy.

If you have suffered from Interstitial Cystitis of the bladder and taken medication to treat your condition for a long period of time, you should consult with an ophthalmologist for an eye exam.  An ophthalmologist is a specialist who can diagnose Retinal Maculopathy, Pigmentary Retinal Maculopathy, and Macular Degeneration.  An optometrist can test your vision, but they may not be able to see the degree of damage on the macula or identify retinal pigmentary changes.  An ophthalmologist can quickly perform the necessary exam to definitively diagnose whether or not you have suffered harm from use of this medication.

The Defective Drug Lawyers at the Yost Legal Group Are Here to Answer Questions and Help

The experienced lawyers at The Yost Legal Group are pursuing  Class Action cases nationwide for patients who have suffered vision damage.  The defective drug lawyers at The Yost Legal Group have decades of experience in pursuing product liability claims against manufacturers of dangerous and defective drugs.  If you or a loved one has questions about vision disturbances after the use of medication to treat Interstitial Cystitis, please call us today for a free initial consultation.  If we accept your case, we will do so on a no win/no fee or expense basis.  You will pay no fee or expense unless you receive a recovery.  We are here to help, please complete the form below, or call us at 1-800-YOSTLAW.