GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Wegovy Tied to Rare Blinding Condition

Recent research reveals that popular weight-loss medications may heighten the risk of a rare eye condition that could lead to blindness. On July 3, a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology highlighted that individuals with diabetes who were prescribed semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy) had a more than fourfold increase in the likelihood of being diagnosed with NAION (Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy). The study further indicated that those who were overweight faced an even higher risk, being over seven times more likely to develop NAION.

Dr. Joseph Rizzo, the lead researcher and director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, stressed in a hospital news release the importance of including NAION as a potential risk when discussing these drugs with patients. While acknowledging the significant benefits these medications offer, Rizzo emphasized that the increased risk is associated with a relatively uncommon disorder.

NAION typically results in the sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye, attributed to reduced blood flow to the front of the optic nerve. It stands as the most common cause of sudden blindness due to optic nerve damage, second only to glaucoma in causing optic nerve blindness. Currently, there are no effective treatments for NAION, and vision loss from this condition is generally permanent. The condition is rare, affecting approximately 10 out of every 100,000 people.

The impetus for this new study came after researchers observed that three patients had been diagnosed with vision loss from NAION within a single week, all of whom had been taking semaglutide. Initially developed to manage type 2 diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels, semaglutide was later approved for weight loss after it was found to help control appetite and slow digestion.

In their study, researchers analyzed records of over 17,000 patients treated at Mass Eye and Ear over the six years since Ozempic's approval for diabetes treatment. They compared NAION rates among those prescribed semaglutide with those taking other diabetes or weight-loss medications and discovered the significant increase in risk. Despite this finding, the researchers noted the need for further studies to understand why this association exists.

Dr. Rizzo remarked that these findings, while significant, are preliminary and require validation in a larger and more diverse population. He suggested that this new information should be part of the discussion between patients and doctors, especially for those with other known optic nerve issues like glaucoma or existing significant visual loss from other causes.

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy in the United States, responded by emphasizing that the study data does not establish a causal link between semaglutide medications and NAION. A company spokesperson stated that patient safety is a top priority and that they take all reports of adverse events from their medications very seriously.