Harvard Study Links Ozempic, Wegovy to 6.7% Risk of Serious Eye Condition

Jul 3, 2024, 03:39 PM

A new study by Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard has revealed a potential link between Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, and a serious eye condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can cause vision loss. The study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, found that patients prescribed these drugs for diabetes or weight loss had a higher risk of developing NAION compared to those not on the medication. The risk of optic neuropathy was 6.7% for the Ozempic group and 0.8% for the control group at 36 months. This is the first report of such an association, based on a matched cohort of approximately 17,000 individuals, highlighting the need for further research to understand the safety implications of these widely used medications.