Study Finds Link Between Popular Weight-Loss Drug and Rare ‘Eye Stroke’

Although evidence is conflicting, the possible ocular side effects of using drugs such as semaglutide bear further investigation.

myskin/Shutterstock

A potential, although modest, increase in the risk of a rare eye condition sometimes called “eye stroke” was found in patients with Type 2 diabetes who use semaglutide, also used for weight loss, new research has found.

The authors of the new study stated, “In the absence of a known mechanism for this association, we urge clinicians to weigh the concern for an increased risk of a rare but potentially blinding eye condition with the many therapeutic benefits of semaglutide.”

Sudden Vision Loss

The condition, called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is blocked, potentially causing sudden vision loss, hence the term “eye stroke.”