Elmiron Vision Loss Claims (2023 Update)

Have you or a loved one experienced vision problems after taking Elmiron?

Suffering from eye damage can have a significant effect on your life. It’s not just frustrating and frightening to struggle with your vision, but you may experience lost wages during treatment, reduced earning capabilities, and diminished quality of life overall.

You could be entitled to compensation through an Elmiron lawsuit after taking the drug and experiencing the devastating effects on your vision. Call an Elmiron lawyer to see if you have a case that makes you eligible for a personal injury claim.

What is Elmiron?

Elmiron is an oral prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. It’s the only oral medication FDA-approved to treat interstitial cystitis (IC) and aims to relieve bladder pain and discomfort.

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition known as “painful bladder syndrome” or “bladder pain syndrome.” It affects women most often and has no known cure at this time. It usually presents with pressure or pain in the bladder or even the pelvic area and causes those suffering from the condition to feel the need to urinate more frequently.

Elmiron patients hoped to find relief from their pain and discomfort, but some ended up experiencing damage to their eyes and vision.

That’s why Elmiron lawyers seek damages from the manufacturers of the prescription drug Elmiron, Janssen Pharmaceuticals. If the adverse visual effects of Elmiron have impacted you, Onward Injury Law is here to help you seek justice.

Elmiron Linked to Eye Damage

Elmiron has now been linked to severe and even permanent eye damage in patients across the country, particularly those who experienced chronic exposure to the drug for an extended period. Symptoms and side effects related to vision damage resulting from prescribed Elmiron use range from minor to serious.

Diseases that have been linked to Elmiron include:

• Macular degeneration
• Retinal maculopathy
• Pigmentary maculopathy

What is Maculopathy?

Maculopathy, also known as macular degeneration, is a disease that causes damage to the macula, which is the central part of the retina. The results of maculopathy are typically central vision loss or other vision impairment.

Other Side Effects of Prescription Drug Elmiron

Pigmentary maculopathy is a specific type of maculopathy specifically linked to the prescription drug Elmiron.

Those who develop pigmentary maculopathy have presented with symptoms like:

• Dimmed vision
• Blurred vision
• Distorted vision
• Visual disturbances
• Struggling to adjust to low light conditions
• Difficulty reading
• Pain in the eyes
• Areas of vision loss
• Total or permanent vision loss

If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms after taking this drug for IC treatment, Elmiron lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve for your suffering.

Background of Elmiron Lawsuits

Those who have filed Elmiron lawsuits claim that Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the drug manufacturer, failed to disclose or warn Elmiron users regarding the risk of vision loss or damage when taking the drug. They claim, therefore, that Janssen Pharmaceuticals should be held liable for the damages that prescription drug Elmiron patients incurred due to that negligence.

2018 and 2019 Studies Supporting Elmiron Vision Loss Lawsuits

One study in 2018 by Emory University School of Medicine, one in 2019 by Kaiser Permanente, and one 2019 study by the American Urological Association all support the claims that Elmiron may cause vision damage, particularly with chronic exposure to the drug.

Another 2019 study by Rachel M. Huckfeldt, MD, Ph.D., of the Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, concluded that the vision damage caused by the maculopathy in a patient that took the prescription drug Elmiron continued to worsen for years even after they stopped using the drug.

Following these studies, Janssen Pharmaceuticals added a warning label in June 2020 to the drug Elmiron regarding “pigmentary changes in the retina.”

First Elmiron Lawsuits Filed in 2020

Soon after the warning label was updated, the first Elmiron eye damage lawsuits were filed by three women who claimed long-term use caused them to experience vision damage. Elmiron lawsuits continued to be filed, and as of October 2022, 1,784 cases were pending in the Elmiron MDL (multidistrict litigation).

Elmiron Bellwether Trials Set for 2023

The first of the bellwether trials were held in January 2023, then pushed to the end of March. There still have yet to be any Elmiron lawsuit trials in 2023.

Claims Continue to Grow

In June 2023, Judge Abbe Fletman from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas still supervised the Elmiron mass tort program in the Philadelphia State Court. The Elmiron multidistrict litigation (MDL) has incorporated over 1,891 cases so far.

How Do You Qualify for the Elmiron Lawsuit?

If you’re unsure whether you qualify to file an Elmiron lawsuit, an Elmiron lawyer can review your case and determine if you should file a claim based on specific criteria.

You may meet Elmiron lawsuit criteria if you:

• Took the prescription drug Elmiron for two years or more
• Began experiencing vision issues on or after January 1, 2010
• Began experiencing vision problems or were diagnosed with vision issues within one year of taking Elmiron
• Sought treatment from a medical professional for your vision problems
• Were diagnosed with a condition like macular degeneration, pigmentary maculopathy, or retinal maculopathy.

Only an Elmiron lawyer can tell you if you have grounds for an Elmiron vision loss lawsuit against the drug manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Elmiron lawyers can help you navigate the complicated waters of the Elmiron class action lawsuit and let you know if you could receive a personal injury settlement.

How Elmiron Lawyers Can Help

If you’ve experienced vision loss after taking Elmiron for interstitial cystitis, you may be entitled to compensation from the drug manufacturers. You’re suffering from frustration, concern for your health, and possibly a diminished quality of life due to the vision damage, and the responsible parties need to be held accountable.

An experienced Elmiron lawyer will represent you with passion and integrity, fighting for the Elmiron settlement award you deserve for your damages. Contact Onward Injury Law for a free consultation, and if you’re eligible, we’ll start filing the legal paperwork necessary to include you in the Elmiron class action lawsuit.

FAQ: Elmiron Vision Loss Claims

How long does it take for Elmiron to cause eye damage?

According to one of the 2019 studies, patients who presented with symptoms of maculopathy had been taking Elmiron for a wide range of timeframes. The shortest time frames were roughly two years, and the longest was 20 years.

How much are Elmiron settlements?

There are less than 2,000 individual lawsuits filed under the Elmiron MDL. None of these lawsuits have entered into litigation yet, and no Elmiron settlements have been reached.

It’s not currently known what the average Elmiron lawsuit settlement amounts may be. Still, the bellwether trials set for 2023 will give plaintiffs a better idea of what they can expect from their Elmiron lawsuit.

It’s likely that more serious cases—like those with potentially permanent vision damage—will receive the highest settlement awards once Elmiron litigation begins.

Is Elmiron off the market?

No. Elmiron is still on the market, and no recall has been issued. It is still the only oral drug available for treating interstitial cystitis, and the FDA has not issued any recommendations for the communication of risks or an Elmiron recall.

If you have more questions or think you may have a claim, reach out to our team today for a free case review.