The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving to strengthen safety warnings for popular diabetes and weight-loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy following research linking their active ingredient, semaglutide, to a rare but serious eye condition that can cause sudden and potentially permanent vision loss.
The condition, known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is disrupted, potentially damaging the nerve responsible for transmitting visual information from the eyes to the brain.
NAION can cause sudden, painless vision loss, typically affecting one eye. The damage can be irreversible, and there is currently no proven treatment capable of reliably restoring lost vision.
The safety concerns emerged following a review of 126 clinical trials involving more than 134,000 patients. According to the findings cited in reports, people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists had approximately a 68% higher relative rate of NAION compared with those in control groups.
However, researchers cautioned that the findings do not establish that the medications directly cause the condition. A higher relative risk also does not mean that 68% of patients will experience vision loss.
Ozempic and Wegovy, both manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, contain semaglutide, a medication that mimics a hormone involved in regulating blood sugar levels and appetite.
Ozempic is primarily prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management in eligible patients. Both have gained widespread attention amid growing demand for GLP-1 medications.
Although NAION remains rare, the possibility of permanent visual impairment has prompted increased scrutiny of semaglutide’s safety profile.
Patients experiencing sudden vision loss or rapid changes in eyesight are advised to seek immediate medical attention. Health authorities also caution against abruptly discontinuing prescribed medications without consulting a healthcare professional.
