A preprint study confirmed an association between Ozempic's active ingredient and an increased — but overall low — risk of vision loss.
Among 61,377 diabetic patients in Norway and Denmark who began taking semaglutide — the main ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus — between 2018 and 2022, 32 developed non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. NAION is a rare eye condition in which a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve often causes painless, sudden vision loss in one eye.
The incidence of NAION was 2.19 per 10,000 person-years among Danish semaglutide users and 1.18 among SGLT-2i medicine users, according to the preprint. In Norway, the incidence rates were 2.90 for semaglutide and 0.92 for SGLT-2i medications.
In July, researchers from Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham and Boston-based Harvard Medical School published a study that found a link between semaglutide and NAION. A week later, two national ophthalmology organizations said they have "been aware of other vision changes with semaglutide for some time" since changing sugar levels can affect the shape of the eye's lens.
Both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society said they recommend patients continue taking the medications unless they experience a sudden vision loss. Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk said it takes adverse event reports seriously.