Ozempic and Wegovy patients sue over alleged NAION vision loss risk

Key Points:

• Hundreds of consumers have filed lawsuits against manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging their GLP-1 receptor agonist medications may increase the risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare eye condition causing sudden vision loss.
• Research, including studies published in JAMA Ophthalmology, suggests a modest increase in NAION risk for patients using semaglutide, though the absolute risk remains very low and causation has not been definitively established.
• The FDA is reviewing evidence on a potential link between semaglutide and NAION but has not issued safety warnings, while the European Medicines Agency recommends listing NAION as a very rare adverse reaction in Europe.
• Experts note that underlying risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, and age complicate the assessment of medication risk, and patients are advised not to stop GLP-1 drugs without consulting healthcare providers due to their significant benefits.
• NAION causes sudden, often permanent vision loss with no proven treatment; doctors suggest caution in prescribing semaglutide to patients with certain optic nerve characteristics that may predispose them to the condition.