For all the buzz surrounding weight loss medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, these drugs aren’t perfect. They come with a risk of side effects like nausea and diarrhea, along with uncommon side effects like gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) and decreased kidney function. However, new research suggests a link between weight loss drugs and blindness (and other eye issues), leading some to refer to the issue as “Ozempic blindness.”
A small study published in JAMA Ophthalmology analyzed data from nine patients who developed severe vision issues, including sudden blindness, while taking semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Of those participants, seven developed a condition called non-arteritic ischemic anterior optic neuropathy (NAOIN, which is sudden vision loss due to lack of blood flow to the optic nerve, and is usually permanent), one developed bilateral papillitis (swelling of the optic nerve that leads to vision impairment and even loss which may be permanent) and another paracentral acute middle maculopathy (an issue with the retina that causes vision loss). To read the full story.