Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Semaglutide: Wegovy Can Spur Sudden Sight Loss By 5x; Men More At Risk, Finds Study

People using <span>Wegovy</span>, a GLP-1 agonist approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for weight loss, may be about five times at risk of developing ‘eye stroke’ that can lead to sight loss, compared to users of <span>Ozempic</span>, according to an alarming study.

Although <span>Semaglutide</span> is the active ingredient found in both <span>Wegovy and Ozempic</span>, the blockbuster drugs are intended for different purposes.

While Wegovy (launched in 2021) targets weight loss, Ozempic (approved in 2017) is more commonly used for treating type 2 diabetes.

The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, showed that the odds of ischemic optic neuropathy -- a sudden, often painless loss of vision -- are three times higher in men than in women.

<h2>What Is Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (ION)?</h2>

ION is caused by inadequate/interrupted blood flow to the optic nerve, resulting in sudden vision loss in one or both eyes.

Although rare, ION has recently been linked to <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-could-now-treat-addiction-says-study-article-153790211" data-type="tilCustomLink">GLP-1 receptor agonists</a>, particularly semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, Ozempic, and <span>Rybelsus</span>, and variously used to treat obesity, diabetes, and to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, according to a team of Canadian researchers from the universities of Ottawa, Calgary, and Toronto.

"Semaglutide, in any formulation, was the only agent significantly associated with ION, with the strongest signal for Wegovy, followed by <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/ozempic-can-raise-your-risk-of-osteoporosis-new-study-reveals-article-153742979" data-type="tilCustomLink">Ozempic</a>,” the researchers said in the paper.

“These findings highlight a potential dose-dependent safety concern that warrants urgent prospective evaluation to guide prescribing and regulatory policy,” they added.

The study is based on an analysis of unintentional and harmful side effects associated with medicines submitted to the <span>US FDA</span> Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) between December 2017 and December 2024.

To understand the risk of eye stroke, the team compared: 

<ul><li>weekly injectable Ozempic (2 mg) for type 2 diabetes</li><li>weekly injectable Wegovy (2.4 ) for obesity </li><li>a daily tablet of Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes</li><li>weekly injection of <a href="http://healthandme.com/health-wellness/woman-lost-weight-on-mounjaro-but-her-breasts-didnt-stop-growing-this-is-why--article-153690899" data-type="tilCustomLink">Mounjaro </a> (for type 2 diabetes)</li><li>weekly injection of <span rel="noindex">Zepbound</span> (for obesity)</li></ul>The team found 30,668,520 unintentional and harmful side effect reports.

Of the 31,774 reports involving semaglutide:

<ul><li>3,070 were attributed to Wegovy, originating from six countries on three continents</li><li>20,608 were related to Ozempic, originating from 11 countries on four continents</li></ul>Wegovy was most strongly associated with ION (28 reports; higher odds of nearly 75), exceeding Ozempic (47 reports; higher odds of nearly 19) and generic forms of semaglutide (85 reports; higher odds of 21). 

ION wasn’t reported in association with Rybelsus.

The highest signal was for Wegovy in men (116 times greater odds) and for Ozempic in women (nearly 27 times greater odds), the researchers said.

<h2>Wegovy Is Top Weight-Loss Choice for US Teens</h2>

Only Wegovy has been approved by the US FDA for children aged 12 and older who are living with obesity. Since the approval in late 2022, the prescriptions have surged.

According to health data company <span>Truveta</span>, which reviewed medical records from 30 US health systems, prescriptions for <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/wegovy-is-the-go-to-choice-weightloss-drug-choice-for-most-us-teens-article-151800461" data-type="tilCustomLink">Wegovy among teens</a> jumped by 50 percent in 2024—rising from 9.9 per 100,000 adolescents in 2023 to 14.8 per 100,000 in 2024.

The first quarter of 2025 showed another increase, with the rate reaching 17.3 per 100,000.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

wegovy

semaglutide

ozempic

zepbound

rybelsus

wegovy and ozempic

us fda

mounjaro

truveta

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People using Wegovy, a GLP-1 agonist approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for weight loss, may be about five times at risk of developing ‘eye stroke’ that can lead to sight loss, compared to users of Ozempic, according to an alarming study. Although Semaglutide is the active ingredient found in both Wegovy and Ozempic, the blockbuster drugs are intended for different purposes. While Wegovy (launched in 2021) targets weight loss, Ozempic (approved in 2017) is more commonly used for treating type 2 diabetes. The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, showed that the odds of ischemic optic neuropathy -- a sudden, often painless loss of vision -- are three times higher in men than in women. What Is Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (ION)?ION is caused by inadequate/interrupted blood flow to the optic nerve, resulting in sudden vision loss in one or both eyes. Although rare, ION has recently been linked to GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus, and variously used to treat obesity, diabetes, and to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, according to a team of Canadian researchers from the universities of Ottawa, Calgary, and Toronto."Semaglutide, in any formulation, was the only agent significantly associated with ION, with the strongest signal for Wegovy, followed by Ozempic,” the researchers said in the paper. “These findings highlight a potential dose-dependent safety concern that warrants urgent prospective evaluation to guide prescribing and regulatory policy,” they added. Key Findings The study is based on an analysis of unintentional and harmful side effects associated with medicines submitted to the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) between December 2017 and December 2024. To understand the risk of eye stroke, the team compared: weekly injectable Ozempic (2 mg) for type 2 diabetesweekly injectable Wegovy (2.4 ) for obesity a daily tablet of Rybelsus for type 2 diabetesweekly injection of Mounjaro  (for type 2 diabetes)weekly injection of Zepbound (for obesity)The team found 30,668,520 unintentional and harmful side effect reports. Of the 31,774 reports involving semaglutide:3,070 were attributed to Wegovy, originating from six countries on three continents20,608 were related to Ozempic, originating from 11 countries on four continentsWegovy was most strongly associated with ION (28 reports; higher odds of nearly 75), exceeding Ozempic (47 reports; higher odds of nearly 19) and generic forms of semaglutide (85 reports; higher odds of 21). ION wasn’t reported in association with Rybelsus.The highest signal was for Wegovy in men (116 times greater odds) and for Ozempic in women (nearly 27 times greater odds), the researchers said. Wegovy Is Top Weight-Loss Choice for US TeensOnly Wegovy has been approved by the US FDA for children aged 12 and older who are living with obesity. Since the approval in late 2022, the prescriptions have surged. According to health data company Truveta, which reviewed medical records from 30 US health systems, prescriptions for Wegovy among teens jumped by 50 percent in 2024—rising from 9.9 per 100,000 adolescents in 2023 to 14.8 per 100,000 in 2024. The first quarter of 2025 showed another increase, with the rate reaching 17.3 per 100,000.