on PinterestResearchers believe that high doses of semaglutide may reduce blood flow to the optic nerve, which could lead to eye stroke.
on PinterestResearchers believe that high doses of semaglutide may reduce blood flow to the optic nerve, which could lead to eye stroke. Maria Korneeva/Getty Images
- A new study has found that the GLP-1 drug Wegovy is linked with a higher risk of “eye stroke,” especially in men.
- Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is a rare but serious condition that can cause vision loss or even blindness.
- Semaglutide drugs like Wegovy may pose a greater risk of ION than Ozempic due to higher doses used for weight loss.
- Doctors say the risk is small, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk even further.
A new study has raised concerns about a rare but serious eye condition linked to a popular class of used to treat obesity and diabetes, especially those containing semaglutide.
Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), known colloquially as an “eye stroke,” can cause sudden vision loss and even blindness.
The study found that certain formulations of semaglutide, particularly Wegovy, the higher-dose version, may carry a higher risk of this vision-threatening side effect, especially in men.
The findings, published on March 10 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, highlight the need for doctors and patients to be aware of potential risks.
The authors called for further research to better understand the safety of these drugs, which are widely prescribed for weight loss.
Semaglutide linked to rare eye disorder
To investigate this possible link, researchers analyzed more than 30 million reports from the FDA’s public database of adverse drug events, spanning late 2017 to the end of 2024.
This database collects reports from patients, doctors, and drug manufacturers about side effects and complications experienced after taking medications.
The researchers focused on reports where a GLP-1 receptor agonist was suspected to be involved in cases of ischemic optic neuropathy.
Semaglutide comes in different forms, including Ozempic, a weekly injection used primarily for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy, a weekly injection for obesity at a higher dose; and Rybelsus, a daily pill for type 2 diabetes.
The study examined each formulation separately to see if the risk of vision problems differed. They also looked at tirzepatide, a newer drug that works on similar pathways but in a slightly different way, as well as common diabetes medications like metformin and insulin for comparison.
The team used statistical methods designed to detect whether a particular drug was reported more frequently with ischemic optic neuropathy than would be expected by chance.
They also adjusted their analysis to account for differences in age and sex, helping to clarify whether certain groups might be more vulnerable. This approach allowed researchers to identify patterns in the data despite the rarity of the condition and the complex background of patients using these drugs.
Out of the tens of millions of reports examined, about 31,000 involved semaglutide.
Wegovy’s higher dose may affect blood flow to optic nerve
The obesity drug Wegovy showed the strongest link to ischemic optic neuropathy, even though it had fewer overall reports than Ozempic, the diabetes formulation.
The higher dose of Wegovy likely plays a role, as
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