Recent tests led by scientists claim that anti-impotence drug Viagra may have more than one use. Tests show that Viagra may stop further loss of vision for patients being robbed of their sight and could even repair damage that’s already been done and could restore sight to the blind. The little blue pills could stop age-related macular degeneration or AMD, in its tracks. AMD is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older. The condition is the UK’s leading cause of blindness, with about 600,000 Britons already thought to have suffered some loss of vision because of it. The research was performed by Columbia University in New York city.

About 90 per cent of those cases are from what’s called dry AMD – a slower onset version and the rest are what is known as wet AMD, which can cause blindness in as little as three months. Dry AMD, usually developed after the age 50, is caused by the growth of new blood vessels over the macula, a small oval-shaped area at the back of the eye that helps us pick out visual details clearly. These blood vessels leak fluid, causing scar tissue to form and destroying vision in the centre of the eye – making it difficult to recognise faces, read or watch television.

Recent research found the condition is partly caused by reduced blood flow to the choroid, a vital layer of tissue that sits in front of the retina and some small earlier studies had suggested Viagra can improve blood flow to this tissue. In the study, five elderly patients with AMD were given two Viagra pills a day for two years. The results, published in the journal Ophthalmologica, showed the drug improved vision for one participant and completely halted deterioration for the others. Small Doses of Viagra May Help Reduce the Risk of Bowel Cancer

“Viagra offers significant potential for vision retention and recovery. It is notable that patients remained visually stable and there was a significant improvement in vision in one participant.” Although the study was small, professor Sobha Sivaprasad from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists said the Viagra findings were encouraging. “We now need bigger studies to replicate these findings before Viagra can be used as a treatment,” she cautioned.

Some drugs can already slow progression of AMD and increase vision in some cases, but the medicines have to be injected into the back of the eye every month. Previous studies have suggested Viagra could help treat a string of ailments from heart attacks and lung disease to dementia. The drug became available over the counter in Britain for the time in March.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2018 09:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).