Industry Odisha Bureau, Sept 24: In latest news, popular GLP-1 medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are facing lawsuits in the US over allegations that they may be linked to a rare eye condition that can cause sudden and potentially permanent loss of vision.
The lawsuits centre on non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION. When blood flow to the optic nerve is disrupted, this condition is caused. This usually causes sudden, painless vision loss in one eye. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says NAION has been very rarely reported in people taking semalglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
Reports say more than 90 lawsuits have been filed in New Jersey against Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy. Meanwhile, separate cases involve Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro. The companies have disputed the allegations. Lawsuits themselves do not establish that the medicines caused the reported injuries.
What does the research say?
Research into the possible connection remains under study. A 2026 study published in Diabetes Care followed more than 5 lakh adults with type 2 diabetes and found 14 NAION cases among 1,06,858 new GLP-1 users. The study found a higher relative risk, but the absolute number of cases was very small.
A separate 2026 meta-analysis covering more than 1.5 million patients also found a modest association between GLP-1 medicines and NAION. This found no association with overall eye related adverse events.
Regulators have responded to the emerging evidence. In July, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration updated warnings across the GLP-1 class. It noted that NAION is rare but it can cause permanent visual impairment, including blindness.
Should people taking GLP-1 drugs be concerned?
The available evidence does not mean that people taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Zepbound will develop blindness. NAION remains rare, and researchers are still examining the relationship between these medicines and the condition.
Sudden vision loss or a sudden change in vision should not be ignored. Regulators advise patients experiencing sudden or partial vision loss while taking GLP-1 medicines to seek urgent medical assessment.
Patients should also discuss any concerns about continuing, quitting or changing their medication with their healthcare professional rather than making treatment decisions based solely on reports of lawsuits or other studies.
