What are the side effects of Ozempic? Recent research suggests that this drug may increase the risk of a rare but serious eye problem that can permanently impair or even destroy vision.

Can diabetes medication cause loss of eyesight?

Can Ozempic cause vision loss? A drug used to treat diabetes is now in the news after new research. Recent research indicates that this drug may increase the risk of a rare but serious eye problem that can permanently weaken or even destroy vision. Let's explain what new information has emerged about this drug and why it is in the news.

Why is its use increasing?

Scientists at the University of Southern Denmark in Denmark assessed the safety of Ozempic in two large studies. The drug helps control blood sugar and promote weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes, leading to a rapid increase in its use in recent years. The research focused on a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). This occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve in the eye is suddenly reduced. The optic nerve transmits visual information from the eye to the brain, so damage to it can lead to sudden vision loss, which in many cases is permanent.

This disease is very rare.

Although NAION is a rare disease, doctors take it very seriously because of its serious consequences. Patients can lose vision in one eye, and in some cases, the other eye can also be affected. The issue began with a small study in the US, which claimed that taking Ozempic could double the risk of NAION. Now, a large-scale study in Denmark has further strengthened this concern.