These lawsuits claim that Elmiron — a long-used drug for bladder pain — caused a serious eye condition called pigmentary maculopathy that can permanently damage vision. Janssen has been quietly settling cases, and the federal litigation, MDL 2973, is now winding down.
Allegations Only · No Admission of Liability
This article describes product-liability lawsuits. The claims that Elmiron causes vision loss are unproven allegations. Janssen Pharmaceuticals denies the allegations, and any settlements described below were reached without an admission of wrongdoing. There is no open public claim form. This page is informational and is not legal or medical advice.
What Is This About?
Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) is a prescription drug approved to treat the pain and discomfort of interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder condition. It has been on the U.S. market since the 1990s and is often taken for years. Beginning around 2020, patients filed lawsuits alleging that long-term Elmiron use caused pigmentary maculopathy — a retinal condition that can permanently damage central vision — and that the manufacturer failed to warn patients and doctors about the risk.The federal cases were consolidated into MDL No. 2973, In re: Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation, before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in the District of New Jersey. The defendant is Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, which denies the allegations. Nearly 2,000 cases were filed into the MDL over its lifetime; by mid-2026 the number still pending had dropped to about 286, according to the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, as the parties resolved cases.
The Alleged Eye Injury
The lawsuits focus on pigmentary maculopathy, a condition affecting the macula — the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. Plaintiffs allege that symptoms associated with long-term Elmiron use can include:• Blurred or distorted central vision
• Difficulty reading or seeing fine detail
• Trouble adjusting to dim or low light
• Dark spots or a dimming of vision near the center of the visual field
Whether Elmiron causes pigmentary maculopathy is disputed and has not been decided by a jury. The drug's labeling has been updated over time to address pigmentary changes in the retina, and part of the litigation concerns whether earlier warnings were adequate. This page does not offer medical advice; patients with vision concerns should see an eye doctor and should not stop a prescribed medication based on a news article.
Where the Litigation Stands in 2026
The Elmiron litigation is in its late stages. Rather than proceeding through a series of bellwether jury trials, Janssen has been resolving cases through confidential individual and group settlements, and the pending-case count has fallen sharply as a result — from nearly 2,000 filed to a few hundred still open. No global settlement amount has been publicly disclosed, and because the resolutions are confidential, there is no published payout figure and no open claim form the public can join.An early bellwether case, Windham v. Janssen, was placed on the calendar in 2023, but the litigation has moved toward settlement rather than trial verdicts. In practical terms, the MDL is winding down. For how Elmiron fits among the country's other active and resolving drug cases, see our MDL tracker.
Who Was Affected
The people who brought these cases are generally long-term Elmiron users — often those who took the drug for interstitial cystitis for several years — who were later diagnosed with pigmentary maculopathy or other retinal changes. Because this is individual product-liability litigation, each case turned on the patient's own medical and pharmacy records, how long they took the drug, and their eye diagnosis. There was never a single automatic "class," and there is no public claim form.What Happens Next
With most cases resolving through private settlements, the remaining questions are how the final group of pending cases is handled and when the MDL formally winds down. Because the litigation is in its late stages, the window to bring a new case is narrow and, in many states, may already have closed under the statute of limitations. Anyone who believes they were harmed should speak with a licensed attorney promptly about their specific situation.Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Elmiron lawsuit allege?
Plaintiffs allege that long-term use of Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium), a drug prescribed for the bladder condition interstitial cystitis, caused a serious eye condition called pigmentary maculopathy that can permanently damage vision, and that the manufacturer failed to warn about that risk. These are unproven allegations; the manufacturer denies them.
Is there an Elmiron settlement?
Janssen Pharmaceuticals has been resolving Elmiron cases through confidential individual and group settlements, and the number of pending cases has fallen sharply as a result. No global settlement amount has been publicly disclosed, and there is no open public claim form. The federal cases remain consolidated in MDL 2973 in New Jersey.
What eye injuries are linked to Elmiron?
The lawsuits center on pigmentary maculopathy — a retinal condition that can cause blurred vision, difficulty reading, trouble adapting to dim light, and dark spots or distortion in central vision. Plaintiffs allege the injury is associated with long-term Elmiron use. Causation is disputed and has not been decided by a jury.
Who makes Elmiron?
Elmiron is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Janssen is the defendant in the consolidated federal litigation.
Sources
• U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation — MDL 2973 statistics and docket, jpml.uscourts.gov• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey — In re: Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2973, njd.uscourts.gov
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration — Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) label and safety information, fda.gov
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