Ozempic & Wegovy: Blindness Risk & New Health Warnings
- Health officials in the United Kingdom have issued a warning about a rare but serious eye condition potentially linked to the use of semaglutide, a medication sold under...
- NAION occurs when blood flow to the front part of the optic nerve is reduced, typically resulting in sudden, painless vision loss in one eye.
- Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and for weight management.
Health officials in the United Kingdom have issued a warning about a rare but serious eye condition potentially linked to the use of semaglutide, a medication sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. The condition, known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), can lead to sudden vision loss.
NAION occurs when blood flow to the front part of the optic nerve is reduced, typically resulting in sudden, painless vision loss in one eye. Patients often describe the experience as a blurring or cloudiness of vision. While the risk associated with semaglutide is considered very low, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advises both patients and healthcare professionals to be aware of the potential symptoms. , the MHRA published guidance on the matter.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and for weight management. The MHRA reports having received three reports of NAION in patients taking semaglutide over the past five years, a period during which an estimated 10.2 million packs of the medication have been dispensed. Alison Cave, the MHRA’s chief safety officer, emphasized that patient safety is the agency’s top priority and that they continually monitor the safety and efficacy of all licensed medicines.
“While the potential risk of NAION for patients prescribed semaglutide is extremely small, it is important that patients and healthcare professionals are alert to the associated symptoms,” Cave stated. The MHRA advises anyone experiencing sudden vision loss while taking semaglutide to urgently seek medical attention at an eye casualty department or emergency room and to report the incident through their Yellow Card scheme, a portal for reporting suspected side effects.
Research published in in JAMA Ophthalmology, and further studies, have indicated a possible link between semaglutide and an increased risk of NAION. One study, conducted by Joseph Rizzo, MD, a Mass General Brigham ophthalmologist, found that individuals with diabetes prescribed semaglutide were more than four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION compared to those with diabetes not taking the medication. For those prescribed the drug who were also overweight or obese, the risk increased to more than seven times higher.
However, Dr. Rizzo cautioned against stopping medication based solely on these findings. “To be perfectly clear, I would not take my findings and use them to recommend that patients stop taking their medications,” he said. “Our finding was really the first possible significant negative finding with these drugs.”
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also concluded in that NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide medicines, including Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. The MHRA estimates that NAION may affect up to one in 10,000 people taking semaglutide.
The recent warning from the MHRA comes after a similar alert regarding a potentially deadly pancreas illness, acute pancreatitis, also linked to weight-loss medications like semaglutide. The MHRA reported receiving 1,296 safety reports of pancreatitis associated with these medications in recent years. Acute pancreatitis causes inflammation of the pancreas and can lead to severe abdominal pain.
The increasing use of semaglutide and similar drugs has led to shifts in prescribing patterns. Some patients previously taking tirzepatide (Mounjaro) may have switched to Wegovy following a price increase for tirzepatide in .
It is important for healthcare professionals to inquire about semaglutide use in patients presenting with symptoms of sudden vision loss, even if the medication isn’t listed in their medical history, as it may have been privately prescribed. Discontinuation of semaglutide is recommended if NAION is confirmed, and new or existing patients should be advised to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any sudden changes in vision or rapidly worsening eyesight.
The MHRA encourages healthcare professionals to report any suspected adverse drug reactions associated with semaglutide, including NAION, through the Yellow Card scheme. This ongoing monitoring is crucial for understanding the full spectrum of potential risks and benefits associated with these medications.