Study Finds Ozempic May Increase Risk of Vision Loss

[{"selector":"#anim-2edbc7e0-5c8c-4a23-a11b-9c5341d44602","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2bebeab-a87a-4bda-a4e2-c63b6610c9d5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83ef1f2b-3ee2-4aa7-b8eb-c9f985dc8d42","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59301708-d702-4a40-9082-ca8c8d5fd2c7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Study Finds Ozempic May Increase Risk of Vision Loss Tejal Somvanshi

People taking Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs face a new concern, possible vision loss, as recent research indicates they might affect eyesight in some patients.

[{"selector":"#anim-f036f324-a543-47d7-afd5-3a7d22e1e4db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66a47e44-44aa-410d-813e-784bc7c1b8b2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c8ad647-e812-4d15-b272-0307ec7c6585","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf9e9b03-d978-4221-9e78-9c3356394fd6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75bcaa94-08f8-4c73-9749-17957ced0f8b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Chemist4U (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Dr. Bradley Katz from the University of Utah found that while taking these drugs, 7 patients had eye strokes, one had nerve swelling, and another experienced a retinal stroke.

[{"selector":"#anim-157d8c5b-57c1-4d98-a14b-175b4e1eee0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c813816-d8c6-47e5-9a1d-dca60717ca89","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.12348%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c4ffaec-5ec0-4935-940b-8dac373be0a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78731208-3293-48bc-88be-d511531a4e46","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36c95a8d-3272-471a-ad58-af227159a2d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Jimmy Emerson, DMV (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Dr. Katz observed that between 2-3% of the U.S. population received a prescription for one of these medications in 2023, hence, its wide usage makes tracking crucial.

[{"selector":"#anim-f492c4b9-c625-4124-97f4-113f79189ee0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be3ab70e-8f50-4c4f-9d4d-5dd0bf6c6c53","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0b9e81c-b86e-4600-a40d-d3da1e195042","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6af59406-192c-4e75-9c9c-7e388d078459","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f106222-1f6b-45ae-be78-77d79e43508c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: HualinXMN (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ozempic quickly lowers blood sugar and it can make the optic nerve swell or affects the fluid balance in eye structures.

[{"selector":"#anim-c1d03fa1-ea51-491a-b24b-bdda84ff88ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0bdd6cd7-0bc1-4b25-9593-ad88ac3bf586","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a596706b-648b-4778-bd9a-b5d301088595","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e4add84-113d-4a83-9f22-d83c73b17cb7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.98032%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b659cb43-ee6a-4928-9746-8be9da132d79","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Chemist4U (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Dr. Katz advises that if patients are starting these drugs or increasing the dose, they should do so slowly to reduce the risk of blood sugar changes

[{"selector":"#anim-6affd3f5-a3ff-4201-bc54-f441796219a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-727b6a87-78c9-490b-8ef1-6418eb71dc8a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-874eb480-d945-4872-9663-e9624a374c1e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1cb6543d-5d1c-4809-a491-dcd31843e305","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17facabf-51cc-4e1a-b99d-38ed0c65e2dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: David-i98 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Additionally, one should also watch for vision changes while using one of these drugs, and if any, they should consult the prescribing doctor and see an ophthalmologist.

[{"selector":"#anim-601bbd3c-8c66-45f0-8468-e8b18efee8a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c9f7690-8517-4958-a745-9aad6f2d643c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbd89695-fe4b-4558-a33b-5e2b05a0658b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25dff379-e99d-4eb4-8bef-c290c0207d49","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c2cd3dc-e353-42ac-be3f-f2f680fee18f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Antoni Shkraba (Pexels)

The FDA is investigating these concerns and researchers want more studies to find out exactly how often these eye problems happen.

[{"selector":"#anim-20f4846b-301c-4492-9dcd-a4974ca0b19d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f383030-3d19-4ccf-9135-d7cdf86348a6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71d7182f-9439-4124-aadf-51e16f0b99ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1a8b32c-2796-4a73-a5f1-65c0aab7258d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6eaaf32e-49aa-438d-8533-85a68162c729","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Blacktupelo (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has alerted physicians and patients about these potential risks, and if vision changes do occur, they should stop taking the drug immediately.

[{"selector":"#anim-ffa15831-f1d2-41b0-a605-12681614a28c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94f5eae9-4365-4ce6-88a3-9c603eb4f009","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.90176%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b581c336-9156-4651-b280-4146422478d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc45f563-865b-48ed-8206-0b4d18085a20","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a5bd297-0364-4da9-bafe-7f0e92d028c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: AAO–HNS (CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-7547e174-b8e3-489a-b877-5ea133f0ed30","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc64b567-4d57-49f1-ac78-7f0881ec10bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-654288b4-1819-4391-80ab-82282ec3b8bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-576274e7-f37a-45f9-9a1a-4db803e54e4e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b427f68-554a-455d-8f2c-62f8addba990","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Point Reyes Rezones 16,000 Acres, 11 Ranchers Exit, Tule Elk Thrive Learn more