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April 03, 2005
On Great Childhood Myths
When we were kids, some of us – at least some of us who were raised as boys – were told that masturbating would make us blind. I gather the intention was to frighten us away from such activities. This technique was as an ineffective means of masturbation control, and today the activity has grown to become accepted in many circles.
Well, perhaps these concerns were merely misplaced.
A study was released last week that indicated the use of Viagra® might lead to blindness. According to the BBC News, which is where you had to go to find any news last week:
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School in the US identified seven men who developed vision problems after taking Viagra.
The team, writing in The Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology, said it brought the total number of reported cases to 14.
But Pfizer, the makers of the drug which has been used by more than 20 million men since its launch in 1998, said the cases were a coincidence.
The seven men, aged between 50 and 69 years old, had all suffered from a swelling of the optic nerve within 36 hours of taking Viagra for erectile dysfunction.
Six experienced vision loss within 24 hours, although only one had problems with both eyes.
So kids, keep at it. You’re cool. Us old geezers, though, better watch it. We may be fucking ourselves blind after all.
Posted by Mike Gold at April 3, 2005 06:22 PM
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Comments
"Aw, ma -- I'll just take it until I need glasses."
Posted by: Charlie Meyerson at April 4, 2005 09:45 PM