More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed on behalf of weight-loss drug users who claim that popular weight-loss medications like Ozempic have caused a loss of vision.
US patients from New York and New Jersey say they suffered non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy after taking drugs containing semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. The condition is rare and includes a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve that causes sudden vision loss in one eye.
“People are just waking up and developing this condition,” said Jason Goldstein, the lawyer representing the patients. “They wake up and suddenly they can’t see. A lot of them lose their peripheral vision. One client lost it in both eyes."
One patient, Edward Fanelli (57), said: “If it were on the label, I definitely wouldn’t have taken it,” referring to a warning of potential vision loss.
“Who would want to risk losing their sight?” he asked.
Fanelli started taking Ozempic for his type 2 diabetes in October 2022 and was diagnosed with the condition about eight months later.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, has defended the medications, with Lauren Browdy Weiner, a spokesperson, saying the condition was not considered a possible adverse reaction for drugs.
Weiner said studies done by the company do not suggest a “causal relationship” between semaglutide and the condition.
External studies, however, have found vision issues or an increased likelihood of vision issues with patients on weight loss drugs, but conclude that more research is needed to truly understand the problem.
One study published in JAMA Ophthalmology examined nine patients who had vision complications while on drugs containing semaglutide or tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. Out of the nine patients, seven had the vision condition.
The author of the study, Dr Bradley Katz, said the review was not conducted in any way “that we can say these drugs caused the complications”.
He added that further studies were needed to test the hypothesis.
“However, this is an important issue for ophthalmologists as we monitor usage of these drugs and how to best be in communication with our patients about them.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
US man sues for blindness after taking Ozempic
Vision problems flagged after GLP-1 agonists – Utah survey