Published earlier this year in The Journal of the American Medical Association, a piece by Dr. Dennis P. Han et al. concludes that “patients taking oral fluoroquinolones were at a higher risk of developing a retinal detachment compared with nonusers, although the absolute risk for this condition was small.”  Oral fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), are a class of antibiotic drugs commonly-used during surgery.

Retinal detachment is a disease characterized by MedlinePlus, a prominent online medical encyclopedia curated by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, as “a separation of the light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye (the retina) from its supporting layers.”

Here is a link to the MedlinePlus “Retinal Detachment” page.

And, according to Han et al. (2013), is an ailment with an overall frequency in the general population of about 0.6%.

Reviewing the medical records of nearly one million consenting American patients, Han and his team determined that while a patient is using fluoroquinolones, however, the risk for retinal detachment jumps to 3.3%.  That is, use of Cipro makes one 4.5 times as likely to experience retinal detachment.

Interestingly, risk for retinal detachment was not elevated by recent use nor past use.  Only current use of the drug was associated with an increased risk for retinal detachment.

Due to the fact that many users of Cipro and other oral fluoroquinolones were not made aware of the increased risk for retinal detachment before using the drug, a number of Cipro lawsuits are currently being filed.

If you or a loved one used Cipro and suffered retinal detachment, please do not hesitate to contact our team of Cirpo Retinal Detachment Lawyers for a free, no-obligation case consultation.

At your convenience, you may reach our offices by phone at (855) 452-5529 or by e-mail at justinian@dangerousdrugs.us.  Call today and see how we can help!