Ozempic, Wegovy Linked to Higher Risk of Rare Form of Vision Loss, Study Suggests

A new study says that people who use diabetes drugs Ozempic or Wegovy may be at increased risk of developing a rare form of blindness.

Boxes of the diabetes drug Ozempic rest on a pharmacy counter in Los Angeles on April 17, 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images

People who use diabetes drugs Ozempic or Wegovy may be at increased risk of developing a rare form of blindness, according to a new study published on July 3 in the medical journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

In the study, researchers looked at whether the risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is increased in Type 2 diabetics or overweight or obese patients who are prescribed semaglutide—the generic name for Ozempic and Wegovy.