What Are The Latest Ozempic Vision Loss Risks in 2025?

How Many Patients Have Developed Vision Problems From GLP-1 Drugs?

University of Utah researchers have identified nine new cases of vision loss in patients taking popular weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, marking the third major study since July 2024 to link GLP-1 agonist drugs with serious eye complications. The February 2025 research, led by Professor Bradley Katz at the John A. Moran Eye Center, documented cases of permanent optic nerve damage occurring between one day and 16 months after patients began treatment.

5 Key Points

• Danish studies in December 2024 confirmed a four times greater risk of eye stroke in GLP-1 medication users.
• July 2024, research showed a seven times higher risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
• All nine Utah patients developed one of three specific optic nerve conditions: NAION, papillitis, or paracentral acute middle maculopathy.
• Researchers hypothesize rapid blood sugar changes, not drug toxicity, trigger vision complications.
• An estimated 44% of the US population will use GLP-1 drugs by 2029, approximately nine million people worldwide.

What Types of Vision Loss Are Patients Experiencing?

The Utah study identified three distinct conditions affecting patients’ optic nerves, each presenting unique challenges for diagnosis and treatment. “In my patient, it was sequential, first one eye and then the other,” Katz explained on the JAMA Network podcast. Two other cases showed unusual bilateral disc swelling despite optic neuropathy appearing in only one eye, which Katz noted as “very atypical for ischemic optic neuropathy.”

The research team discovered that all affected patients shared a critical anatomical feature—”a small cup-to-disk ratio,” which potentially indicates increased vulnerability to vision complications. This finding could help identify at-risk patients before beginning GLP-1 treatment.

How Do Blood Sugar Changes Affect Vision?

The research team’s hypothesis centers on the drugs’ dramatic effects on blood sugar levels. Previous concerns about GLP-1 toxicity have given way to a new theory focusing on rapid glycemic changes. “Because of the association of semaglutide with a temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy, the increased incidence of diabetic macular edema, and the concern that rapid correction of hyperglycemia could induce papillitis, physicians prescribing this medication to their patients with type 2 diabetes should consider a drug regimen that more gradually lowers HbA1C level,” the study authors wrote.

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What Evidence Links These Drugs to Eye Problems?

Three major studies since July 2024 have strengthened the connection between GLP-1 drugs and vision complications:

1. July 2024: Initial research revealed a sevenfold increase in NAION risk
2. December 2024: Two Danish studies conducted in Novo Nordisk’s home country showed a four times greater risk of eye stroke
3. February 2025: The University of Utah study documented nine cases with varying onset times and symptoms

How Are Medical Authorities Responding?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology released guidance following the July 2024 JAMA Ophthalmology report. “The American Academy of Ophthalmology published a press release shortly after the JAMA Ophthalmology report last summer showing this increased incidence of ischemic optic neuropathy because that spooked a lot of patients, and it spooked a lot of doctors,” Katz explained.

The medical community now faces the challenge of balancing these drugs’ significant benefits against emerging risks. A five-year study examining semaglutide’s effects on eye disease in type 2 diabetes patients remains ongoing, though preliminary findings have prompted calls for more cautious prescribing practices.

What Should Current and Future Patients Know?

Medical experts emphasize continuing prescribed medications while maintaining vigilant monitoring. Katz stressed, “The recommendation in our manuscript is just that you shouldn’t not take these drugs. They’re very effective. But we would recommend that physicians prescribing these drugs just take some extra care to go onto them slowly.”

The researchers advise immediate medical attention for sudden vision changes, though they emphasize avoiding panic. With GLP-1 drugs showing promise for multiple health conditions – from kidney and heart benefits to cancer risk reduction – the focus remains on identifying at-risk patients and developing safer administration protocols.