Pfizer Faces Viagra Suits Over Users’ Vision Loss

Pfizer Inc. is defending itself in court against Viagra users who claim the drug caused them to lose their vision.

At least 17 cases allege that Pfizer failed to properly warn users that Viagra may cause vision loss, said U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson, who will hear the cases in St. Paul, Minn.

The first case will probably be heard in about a year, said Magnuson, who met with attorneys involved in the lawsuits.

The Food and Drug Administration warned in July that 43 men reported losing their vision after taking that drug and similar medications for erectile dysfunction. Pfizer changed its packaging information for the drug to say some users had rare instances of sudden vision loss.