The concerning evidence presented by researchers and ophthalmologists suggests that Elmiron may cause vision problems that could lead to blindness.
Elmiron Eye Side Effects
Even before researchers identified a risk of retinal pigmentary damage, there were some known Elmiron side effects related to eye issues. These side effects include:
Conjunctivitis (pink eye), swelling and inflammation of the conjunctiva tissue of the eye that can be caused by irritation or infection
Optic neuritis, inflammation and swelling of the optic nerve that can lead to sudden vision loss, which may be short-term or long-term
Retinal hemorrhage, bleeding that occurs in the retina of the eye and that can cause visual impairments, including sudden blindness
Amblyopia, otherwise known as a “lazy eye”
The Elmiron vision problems that came to light through research presented in 2018 and 2019 involved a type of maculopathy known as retinal pigmentary change.