Ozempic Lawsuit: "This week's study doesn't suggest that GLP-1 cause your eyes to fall out exactly, but, as you will see in a second, it is not that far off," says Dr F Perry Wilson, MD, MSCE, physician, researcher, educator, and writer, at Yale School of Medicine, before he begins to explain what the new study suggests of the side effects. Weight loss drugs have gained popularity up recently. The popularity is for all the right, and the wrong reasons too. While up recently, we have Wegovy being approved for treating MASH, we also have unheard side effects of the popular drug Ozempic, and not to mention, the cases of pancreatitis reported in the UK, and the ongoing lawsuit on Ozempic.So, what does this new study add to all this?Weight Loss Medication And Vision LossTwo studies, published in JAMA, analyzed how semaglutide, an injection used to treat type 2 diabetes that helps control your blood sugar, and tirzepatide, an antidiabeteic medication, also used to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight loss, administering via injections, which include popular drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, impacted eye health in Americans with type 2 diabetes over a 2-year period.What Did The Study Find?One of the studies found a modest risk of developing a non-arteritis anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAOIN), which is a rare eye condition that can lead to sudden vision loss due to lack of blood flow. This condition has close links with the consumption of semaglutide and tirzepatide.Out of more than 159,000 participants with type 2 diabetes, 35 developed NAION, compared to 19 people in the comparison group. The Ohio-based researchers also noted an increased risk of developing "other optic nerve disorders" identified in 93 patients. The second study found no statistically significant link between GLP-1 drug use and NAION, a rare eye condition, but reported a slight uptick in cases of diabetic retinopathy, a retinal disease that can cause vision loss.The study observed that individuals with type 2 diabetes who were treated with GLP-1 drugs faced a modestly higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. However, researchers emphasized that fewer patients progressed to sight-threatening stages of the disease. They concluded that all patients with type 2 diabetes receiving GLP-1 therapies should undergo regular screening and monitoring for potential eye complications, regardless of whether they already have diabetic retinopathy."These findings suggest that all patients with type 2 diabetes treated with GLP-1 RAs, regardless of preexisting diabetic retinopathy, should be regularly screened and monitored for potential complications," the study authors concluded.What Are The Experts Saying?As questions continue to mount about the potential connection between GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and vision problems, experts stress that more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions.Sue Decotiis, M.D., a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, said she believes additional studies are required to confirm whether the drugs increase the risk of vision loss, pointing to conflicting findings so far."NAION is a rare condition of the optic nerve that, although serious, has not really been shown to be increased by these studies," Decotiis, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital. "We need more studies for certain."She noted that diabetic patients already face a heightened risk of eye disease due to blood flow and nerve damage. "Eye complications are often directly related to the degree or lack thereof of diabetes control," she explained.According to Decotiis, GLP-1 drugs often help reduce the severity of type 2 diabetes, which can in turn lower the risk of eye disease. These medications have also been shown to reduce cardiovascular risks, such as hypertension, and improve circulation, both of which may benefit eye health.For patients beginning GLP-1 treatment, she advised proactive monitoring. "We should take precaution with methodical ophthalmic care for diabetics on these drugs," she said. "However, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water."Ashley Brissette, M.D., an ophthalmologist in New York City, echoed that perspective, calling NAION an "extremely rare" but serious medical condition. She emphasized that the risk associated with GLP-1 drugs is also “extremely rare, at a risk of about one in 10,000, according to other studies.”"I think caution with anything is warranted," Brissette told Fox News Digital. "And remember these are associations, not causations, so it's not to say that GLP-1 use causes NAION or worsening retinopathy, but their use is associated with these conditions."She underscored the importance of thorough eye care: "From an ophthalmologic standpoint, these findings underscore the importance of baseline and follow-up eye examinations for patients starting GLP-1 therapy, especially those with pre-existing retinal or optic nerve risk factors."Brissette added that while the benefits of GLP-1 drugs in reducing cardiovascular and metabolic risks are “substantial,” patients should be counseled on potential vision-related side effects, and “any sudden visual symptoms should prompt immediate ophthalmic referral.”When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, said it stands by the safety of its medications."Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk, and we take all reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously. NAION is a very rare eye disease, and it is not an adverse drug reaction for the marketed formulations of semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy) as per the approved labels in the U.S."The company added: "Novo Nordisk, on its part, has conducted an analysis across randomized controlled clinical trials with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including a blinded ophthalmologist evaluation to confirm NAION diagnoses. Our current assessment is that these data do not suggest a causal relationship between GLP-1 RA use and NAION events."
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