New Investigation Explores Potential Link Between Ozempic and Vision Loss
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A new investigation from researchers at the University of Utah points to a possible cause of serious eye problems in people using Ozempic and similar drugs.
The research, published last month, suggested that rapid blood sugar changes from semaglutide or tirzepatide could lead to eye problems.
The researchers evaluated nine patients who had developed eye issues like nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) or papillitis after taking the drugs. These conditions are serious and can lead to blindness. There is no cure for NAION.
The researchers in this investigation stressed that the results do not prove these drugs cause the eye conditions in question.
“This review was not conducted in any way that we can say these drugs caused the complications,” lead author Bradley Katz said in a University of Utah release. “Further studies are needed to test our hypothesis. However, this is an important issue for ophthalmologists as we monitor the usage of these drugs and how to best be in communication with our patients about them.”
This is not the first time that studies have tied these drugs to possible serious health conditions. Ozempic lawsuits are currently pending in federal court. The plaintiffs claim that Ozempic and similar drugs are tied to gastroparesis and other intestinal problems.
Lawyers are also actively investigating claims that these drugs are tied to eye problems.
Previous Research Had Tied Ozempic to Eye Issues
Concerns about drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy causing serious eye problems grew after a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in July.
Researchers were motivated to conduct a study after anecdotal experience suggested that there may be some connection between these drugs and eye conditions.
The study evaluated over 16,000 patients and found that there is, in fact, a higher risk of NAION in patients taking semaglutide than those who were not.
“This study is the first, to our knowledge, to report an association between semaglutide and NAION,” the researchers stated.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, NAION typically occurs as painless vision loss.
There are no treatments for the condition.
Editor Lindsay Donaldson contributed to this article.
