Ozempic Lawsuits Rise Over Allegations of Irreversible Vision Loss
- Edward Gillen, a man from Dedham, is suing Novo Nordisk after alleging that the use of Ozempic led to irreversible vision loss in both eyes.
- The lawsuit, filed by Gillen who used the drug between 2024 and 2025, alleges that Novo Nordisk provided inadequate warnings about the risk of NAION.
- NAION is described by Mass General Brigham ophthalmologist Dr.
Edward Gillen, a man from Dedham, is suing Novo Nordisk after alleging that the use of Ozempic led to irreversible vision loss in both eyes. Gillen is one of more than 130 plaintiffs in a Pennsylvania federal court claiming that GLP-1 receptor agonists caused non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition that results in sudden and permanent blindness.
The lawsuit, filed by Gillen who used the drug between 2024 and 2025, alleges that Novo Nordisk provided inadequate warnings about the risk of NAION. Gillen told Boston 25 News that he was unaware of this potential side effect until he lost his sight in the spring of 2025, stating that while he had heard of other side effects through commercials and his doctor, he was not warned about vision loss.
NAION and the potential link to GLP-1 medications
NAION is described by Mass General Brigham ophthalmologist Dr. Joseph Rizzo as a stroke of the optic nerve. In a 2025 hospital blog post, Rizzo noted that the condition typically occurs without warning and is painless.
Rizzo co-authored a study suggesting an increased risk of NAION for patients using certain GLP-1 drugs. Despite these findings, Rizzo stated in the MGB blog post that he would not use the data to recommend that patients stop their medications, suggesting instead that the findings merit extra caution in the consideration between doctors and patients about who might use this medicine.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has cautioned that the risk of NAION remains low and has not been definitively confirmed. In a clinical statement issued in May 2025, the academy recommended that patients consult a collaborative care team—including endocrinologists, neurologists, primary care physicians, and ophthalmologists—to weigh the risks and benefits of starting or stopping GLP-1 treatments.
Novo Nordisk response to vision loss allegations
Novo Nordisk maintains that personal injury lawsuits regarding vision loss are without merit. Liz Skrbkova, the company’s head of U.S. media and stakeholder relations, stated that semaglutide—the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy—has a well-established safety profile, supported by robust clinical development programs.
Skrbkova cited a pooled analysis of semaglutide and liraglutide clinical trials published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology earlier this year. According to the company, that analysis did not show an increased incidence of NAION in patients receiving GLP-1s compared to those receiving a placebo.
While Novo Nordisk asserts the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains favorable, Skrbkova noted the company recommends all patients maintain close contact with healthcare professionals for ongoing guidance and monitoring. She added that appropriate measures would be implemented if emerging safety data warranted further action.
Impact on patients and community response
Gillen, a father of four and longtime state highway worker, alleges in his complaint that he was lured into a false sense of hope by the marketing of GLP-1s as miracle drugs. He claims he injected the medication believing it would promote his health, whereas he alleges it had the opposite effect.
Following his vision loss, Gillen began using the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton to learn adaptive skills for independent living. In response to his condition, community members in Dedham established a GoFundMe to support the Coach BlindED Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting visually impaired individuals and funding research into vision loss.