1 companies facing lawsuits over vision loss

Key Points:

• Lawsuits have been filed against companies producing GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound, alleging these medications caused permanent eye damage linked to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare condition causing sudden vision loss.
• Nearly 100 lawsuits related to NAION have emerged in New Jersey since 2025, with additional cases from Philadelphia, amid mixed research findings on the drugs' association with the condition.
• Medical experts state there is insufficient evidence to conclusively link GLP-1 drugs to NAION, noting the condition's rarity and that even a doubled risk would affect only about two in 10,000 users.
• Pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly deny significant connections between their GLP-1 drugs and NAION, highlighting that diabetes patients—who use these drugs—are already at higher risk for eye problems.
• The FDA is investigating the potential link, though current GLP-1 drug labels in the U.S. do not warn about NAION, unlike some international labels; patients concerned about risks are advised to consult healthcare providers.