A Hard Question?

It’s a hard question—and I don’t mean that as a pun. However, with the possible link between Viagra and vision loss, millions of men around the world may have to make a choice: sex or sight.

It’s no laughing matter, but considering the countless jokes Viagra has spawned since it came on the market, I am sure that new ones are just around the bend. I’ll even create one now:

A man goes to his physician and says, “Doc, I’m having real problems with my sex
life.”

Two which the doctor replies, “Isn’t the Viagra helping?”

To which the man replies, “That part is OK. It’s just that I can’t see where to put that part any more.”

OK, a poor joke on a wacky subject. Seriously, from what I’ve read about the study linking Viagra and vision loss, I don’t even know why it’s news. First, they are talking about men experiencing short-term vision changes and, second, what has been reported is a slight loss of peripheral vision or a worsening of vision, for example going from 20/20 vision to 20/40. Hey! I’d love to have 20/40 vision again!

The reason that I am even writing about this is because some of the media is making such a big deal out of it. And I suspect they are doing so because it sells newspapers or magazines or brings more men to their TV broadcasts. I can’t think about any other reason, at least not when I ask the question, “who benefits.”

I find it also strange that this connection between Viagra and sight loss made the headlines while another study about Viagra improving the lives of men with multiple sclerosis did not. Again, who benefits?

Please don’t think I am somehow supporting Pfizer, Viagra's manufacturer. I’m not, even though I did once own stock in the company. I sold that stock long ago. Besides, I rather prefer Cialis myself. But that’s an entirely different blog.