Ozempic Blindness: What You Need To Know

If you’re using Ozempic® or other GLP-1s, you’re probably familiar with potential side effects like “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic butt.”

But what about “Ozempic blindness”?

Vitreoretinal surgeon Katherine Talcott, MD, explains what we know about how weight loss drugs may impact your vision.

Does Ozempic cause blindness?

“Ozempic blindness” isn’t an actual medical diagnosis, notes Dr. Talcott.

“There’s been a lot of research on whether medications like Ozempic have any adverse impacts in the eye,” she says. “There’s a possible association with nonarteritic anterior ischemic neuropathy (NAION), which can cause vision to decrease.”

One study compared people who were on Ozempic with people who weren’t taking the medication. The results showed an increased risk of having NAION in people who were on Ozempic.

“That caused a fair amount of concern. But it’s important to note the researchers found an association, not necessarily a causation, between the two,” clarifies Dr. Talcott, who was a co-author on a study that found no association between Ozempic and NAION.

It’s worth noting that organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, have advised healthcare providers to discuss the potential link with patients on Ozempic or other GLP-1s.

“But it’s not recommended that people stop those medications,” stresses Dr. Talcott. “You should have a discussion with your primary care doctor about the risks and benefits. Most eye doctors feel that the benefits of these drugs outweigh any potential risk, in terms of the eye.”

One of those potential benefits? Some early studies show that Ozempic may decrease the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Ozempic blindness symptoms

If you’re experiencing NAION, you may notice:

• Blurring or worsening vision across part of your field of vision
• Weakened color vision (dyschromatopsia)
• Sudden, painless vision loss

“While there isn’t any treatment for NAION, about a third of people diagnosed with it will experience an improvement in their vision over time,” says Dr. Talcott.

Who is most at risk?

Healthcare providers are still learning more about NAION and how it affects someone’s vision. The theory is that there’s a disruption to the circulation in your optic nerve. Certain factors can contribute to NAION like:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Low blood pressure while sleeping
• Type 2 diabetes
• Atherosclerosis
• Sleep apnea
• Anemia
• Smoking
• Migraines

“Some initial studies on Ozempic suggested that if you have diabetes-related retinopathy, the medication can worsen it,” says Dr. Talcott. “But regardless of what those studies show, most healthcare providers would recommend GLP-1s because they help manage diabetes.”

When to see a doctor

If you’re on a semaglutide or another weight loss drug and notice a difference in your vision, Dr. Talcott recommends talking to your healthcare provider.

“You should be seen sooner, rather than later — within a few days,” she urges. “If you have sudden, painless vision loss, then you should be seen urgently.”

Key takeaway

Ozempic eye blindness is rare. “People who are on Ozempic shouldn’t notice a change in their vision at all,” concludes Dr. Talcott.

And she stresses that more research is needed to fully understand the pros and cons of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs and how they may affect your eye health.

“So many people are on the GLP-1s, including Ozempic,” she adds. “We want to have a better understanding of how these medications impact eye health in terms of either preventing the progression of an eye disease or worsening an existing condition. Having that understanding will allow healthcare providers to better guide how we manage and monitor patients.”