Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and several other drugs that have revolutionized the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Semaglutide mimics a natural hormone in the body, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which plays a pivotal role in regulating blood sugar levels and appetite. Some people lack a sufficient amount of GLP-1; that’s where Semaglutide comes in. (Proper diet, daily exercise, and medical oversight still need to accompany the use of semiglutide medications.)
When beginning a Semaglutide medication, or adjusting a dosage, fluctuations in blood sugar levels can affect the shape of the eyes’ lenses, producing blurriness that might last a few months, especially in older patients, whose eye lenses are less flexible. Once blood sugar levels stabilize, the blurriness typically disappears.
However, if blurred vision lasts longer than this; a preexisting eye condition is exacerbated (in particular, diabetic retinopathy); or a new vision concern presents itself, contact an eye doctor right away.
A recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology explores the possibility of a link between Semaglutide medications and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a serious condition that causes sudden, painless, and permanent vision loss, usually in one eye. Patients using Semaglutide medications were found to have a higher incidence of NAION than those who took nonsemaglutide weight-loss or diabetes medications.
More research needs to be done before a causal link between semiglutide medications and NAION can be established. In the meantime, if patients have questions, close consultation with their doctors is key.
Unfortunately, a drug’s dangerous side effects might have been overlooked or not studied sufficiently. If you have been harmed by a product’s manufacturing, design, or marketing defect, contact our firm to attain fair compensation for your injuries.
