Ozempic and Retinal Damage

Semaglutide, a diabetes drug, has been making headlines since it was approved by the FDA to help with blood sugar control and obesity therapy. Ozempic research revealed that semaglutide can significantly assist blood sugar control. However, studies have shown it can induce vision alterations.

Semaglutide promotes weight loss and blood sugar control by producing the hormone GLP-1, which elicits a feeling of fullness while eating. This hormone also stimulates the body to produce more insulin, lowering blood sugar. When the body’s sugar level changes, the shape of the eye lens may be affected. This alteration leads to hazy vision, which is a side effect of semaglutide. According to retina specialist Raj Maturi, MD, older people are more prone to develop hazy vision when they begin taking the medication. This is because the eye’s lens gets less flexible with age, so vision takes longer to stabilize when the body’s blood sugar levels fluctuate. Dr. Maturi mentions, “The good news is that this is a temporary side effect, usually subsiding after three or four months” (Hazanchuk, 2023).

Despite its rarity, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a cause of blindness in the United States. It causes painless, permanent vision loss, frequently occurring as an individual awakens from sleep. A new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found a potential relationship between semaglutide and NAION. According to the latest analysis, diabetics prescribed semaglutide, which is sold under several brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy, were four times more likely to develop NAION than diabetics taking other medications (Newman, 2024). 

The principal author of the latest study was Joseph Rizzo, MD, director of Mass Eye and Ear’s Neuro-Ophthalmology Service in Boston, Massachusetts. He began to look into the relationship between semaglutide and NAION based on the observation that three patients in his practice were diagnosed with NAION in just one week. This is unusual, given the rarity of the eye condition. Rizzo and colleagues also observed that all three patients were on semaglutide. They evaluated retrospective data from 16,827 Mass Eye and Ear patients to conduct the investigation. They separated the participants into two groups based on their rationale for taking the medication: type 2 diabetes or obesity. Some patients in these two groups were given semaglutide, while others received unrelated medications to treat their condition. In the diabetic group, 8.9% of participants receiving semaglutide were diagnosed with NAION, compared to 1.8% of those on other diabetes medications. Similarly, in the obese group, 6.7% of those receiving semaglutide developed NAION, compared to only 0.8% of those on other medications (Newman, 2024).

While the mechanism linking semaglutide to NAION is unknown, there are a few theories. Semaglutide “may influence vascular health and blood flow, potentially contributing to ischemic events in predisposed individuals” (Newman, 2024). An ischemic event occurs when an organ or tissue does not receive enough blood and oxygen. NAION is caused by ischemia in the optic nerve. Another perspective focuses on the mechanism by which semaglutide functions. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist that activates the GLP-1 receptor, and GLP-1 receptors are found on the optic nerve. Activating them may affect blood flow to the optic nerve, raising the risk of NAION.

The latest findings on Ozempic offer a new perspective on the debate over these popular drugs. While they provide significant benefits for weight loss and diabetes management, the danger of blindness should not be disregarded. Staying knowledgeable and concerned about eye health can help minimize the risk.

References: 

Hazanchuk, V. (2023, June 23). Can Ozempic Affect Eye Health? Here’s What Ophthalmologists Want You to Know. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/can-ozempic-affect-eye-health-here-s-what-ophthalm

Kelley, S. (2024, April 10). Semaglutide & eye health: Can Ozempic cause vision problems? All about Vision. https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/related/ozempic-eye-side-effects/

Moran researchers probe potential role of Ozempic, other weight-loss drugs in vision loss - @theU. (2025, February 3). Utah.edu. https://attheu.utah.edu/health-medicine/moran-researchers-probe-potential-role-of-ozempic-other-weight-loss-drugs-in-vision-loss/

Newman, T. (2024, July 5). Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy linked to eye condition causing vision loss. Medicalnewstoday.com; Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-like-ozempic-wegovy-linked-to-eye-condition-causing-vision-loss#What-is-NAION

Team, A. E. (2024, August 14). Rare Risk of Blindness Linked to Popular Weight Loss Drugs: Ozempic and Wegovy. Assil Gaur Eye Institute Blog. https://assileye.com/blog/can-ozempic-and-wegovy-cause-blindness/