The weight-loss drug Ozempic could increase the risk of vision loss, a new study found.
Ozempic has been hailed as a gamechanger with the potential to save millions of lives, and billions of pounds.
Illnesses caused by obesity cost the NHS more than £11 billion per year, prompting the government and health service to roll out drugs like Ozempic to cut weight and slash rates of diabetes.
But semaglutide – sold as Ozempic and Wegovy – has been linked to a rare eye condition could see users lose their sight.
Caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy – or NAION – was found at a rate of 2.19 in 10,000 among users of semaglutide in Denmark.
This was higher than the 1.18 in 10,000 rate found among users of a different type of medication, SGLT-2is.
In Norway, the same research found an even starker difference – 2.9 in 10,000, compared with 0.92.
Released this month on medRxiv, a website publishing articles before they’re peer reviewed, this study looked at
The non-peer reviewed study, published this month on medRxiv 44,517 users of semaglutide in Denmark and 16,860 in Norway.
Although the authors warn that the absolute risk of developing NAION remains low, it does back up a Harvard University study that found a link between semaglutide and NAION earlier this year.
NAION is more likely to occurs in diabetes patients, one of the key groups being targeted with Ozempic provided by the NHS.
This is not the only health concern to emerge regarding Ozempic. At least 18 death suspected to be linked to semaglutide were reported to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) between June 2020 and November 2024.
Side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramping and constipation are known to be caused by the drug. It may also be linked with anxiety and depression.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously said: ‘Weight-loss drugs have enormous potential. When taken alongside a healthy diet and exercise, they can be game changers in tackling obesity and getting people back to good health.
‘But these are not cosmetic drugs that should be taken to help get a body beautiful picture for Instagram.
‘These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision.’
Novo, which produces Wegovy, found very few cases of NAION in its own trials and said the drug has been ‘extensively examined’.
Echoing Mr Streeting’s message, a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company previously said: ‘Patient safety is of the utmost importance to Novo Nordisk.
‘We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 RA medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety.
‘As part of this work, we actively monitor reports of adverse drug reactions through routine pharmacovigilance.
‘We recommend patients only take these medications for their approved indications and under the strict supervision of a healthcare professional, who can also advise on potential side effects.’
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