Doctors recommend caustion users of weight loss jabs to outweigh the risk-benefit of before applying this drugs | Credits: Shutterstock
Across social media and medical circles, cases have surfaced of users losing eyesight after taking semaglutide drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and others. Concern has shifted from isolated anecdotes to real scientific and legal scrutiny.
A groundbreaking study released this year in JAMA Ophthalmology reviewed nine patients who took semaglutide or tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) and then suffered severe optic nerve damage. Seven were diagnosed with non‑arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a sudden blockage of blood flow to the optic nerve that often leads to permanent vision loss. Another patient suffered swollen optic nerves, and yet another sustained retinal damage. This phenomenon has been dubbed “Ozempic blindness”
These nine cases barely scratch the surface. A pair of Danish studies, spanning over 400,000 Type 2 diabetic patients, found that the use of Ozempic more than doubled the risk of developing NAION compared to other treatments. The number of reported NAION occurrences increased from approximately 60–70 cases annually before 2018 to nearly 150 after the introduction of semaglutide to the market.
Man claims severe vision loss
On the legal front, Maryland resident Todd Engel has filed a lawsuit claiming severe vision loss after taking Ozempic in August 2023. Four months later, he was diagnosed with NAION, losing vision first in one eye, then the other — his attorneys describe the outcome as life‑altering and devastating.
Engel’s legal case argues that Novo Nordisk was aware of the risks from the outset. He alleges internal trial data documented optic nerve incidents, but they weren’t included in public warnings or packaging. Legal counsel stands firm: he would have declined the drug had he known the risk.
Regulators are also taking notice. The European Medicines Agency’s safety committee (PRAC) has classified NAION as a “very rare” side effect, occurring in up to 1 in 10,000 users on a year‑long regimen.
In Australia, reports to the Therapeutic Goods Administration revealed more than 40 cases of eye disorders linked to semaglutide, including two involving sudden blindness.
Harvard warns 7x higher risks
Vast Harvard research analysed thousands of patient records and warned of a seven‑fold higher risk for those on semaglutide.
Yet the drugmaker stresses that no direct causal link has been proven and that their internal reviews don’t justify label changes. They maintain that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks.
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, the Danish manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, told The Post, “NAION is a sporadic eye disease, and it is not an adverse drug reaction.” They said that after evaluating the research and an internal safety assessment, “Novo Nordisk believes that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains unchanged.”
Still, the personal stories paint a stark contrast. Engel lost his independence and ended his career. Another claimant, Edward Fanelli, reported losing peripheral vision after eight months of use.
Multiple lawsuits now push for warning labels and informed consent. At least a dozen nearly identical lawsuits are underway in federal courts.
The drug is still relatively new
Doctors are scrambling to adjust. Experts suggest that patients on GLP-1 drugs, particularly those older than 50 or those with existing eye conditions, should undergo regular eye screenings. Wong and colleagues from Harvard recommend immediate ophthalmic attention if sudden vision changes occur.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing the evidence; however, no label updates have been announced. Like any medicine, semaglutide comes with risks and benefits; however, this novel drug, which was first approved by the FDA in 2017 for the treatment of diabetes, is still relatively new to the scientific community.
Patients and physicians must weigh the life‑changing benefits of these medications against the potential permanent side effects.
For now, vigilance is crucial. Anyone on Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro who experiences sudden vision blurring, dark spots, or shadowed sight should stop the drug and seek medical help. Awareness may be the only tool that prevents “Ozempic blindness” from catching another unsuspecting patient.
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