Ozempic May be Linked to Condition
That Causes Blindness - But more Research Needed
July 3, 2024 💉 By Berkeley Lovelace Jr.
People taking Ozempic and Wegovy may be at increased risk of developing a debilitating eye condition that can cause irreversible vision loss, a study published Wednesday in JAMA Ophthalmology finds. The authors stressed, however, that more studies are needed to confirm a link between the blockbuster drugs and vision problems.
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, is a condition that affects the optic nerve, a bundle of fibers that connects to the back of the eye and carries signals to the brain so a person can see. In people with NAION, blood flow to the optic nerve gets reduced or blocked, leading to sudden vision loss.
“It is, in effect, a stroke of the optic nerve,” said senior study author Dr. Joseph Rizzo, the director of neuro-ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston.
NAION is the second most common optic nerve disease in the U.S., occurring in up to 10 out of 100,000 people, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and it’s one of the most common causes of sudden blindness. The condition is permanent with no known treatment.
The
new study was based on an analysis of medical records spanning six years from more than 16,800 patients in the Boston area, none of whom were initially diagnosed with NAION.
The researchers focused on a subset of those patients — about 1,700 — who either had diabetes, were overweight or had obesity, and compared outcomes after 36 months in those who were prescribed semaglutide to those who weren’t. Semaglutide is the ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
Does Ozempic Cause Vision Loss?
Eye Doctor Explains
Eye Doctor Explains
You have probably heard about Ozempic recently. There is a lot of controversy surrounding it. Is it good for you or bad for you? 🤔
Did you know this medication could have an impact on your eyes? If you would like to learn more about what the ophthalmic community has learned about it, Dr. Rupa Wong, board-certified ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, explains it all here.
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00:00 : How does Ozempic affect our bodies? Does Ozempic cause blindness? Is Ozempic bad for your vision?
01:24 : What is Ozempic or Wegovy? Is Ozempic or Wegovy FDA approved?
02:50 : What is the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?
03:00 : What do opthalmologists say about Ozempic? Have there been any studies showing a decrease of vision?
04:20 : Do diabetic patients need additional eye exams?
04:55 : What is diabetic retinopathy?
05: 53 : What is the difference between proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy?
07:32 : What symptoms will I experience if I have diabetic eye disease?
08:35 : Does Ozempic lead to eye disease?
09:38 : If I am having side effects as a result of taking Ozempic, should I stop taking it? What are the side effects of Ozempic?
11:47 : Conclusion - Are you interested in Ozempic? Are you taking Ozempic?
Drugs Like Ozempic, Wegovy are Linked to Eye Conditions
Causing Vision Loss 👁️👁️
Association between semaglutide and a rare eye condition.
By Tim Newman on July 5, 2024
Fact checked by Sarah Myers, PharmD
- A new study finds an association between semaglutide and a rare eye condition.
- The condition, called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, can cause blindness.
- The authors note that this finding is preliminary, and more research is needed.
A new study, which appeared in JAMA Ophthalmology Trusted Source earlier this week, identified a potential link between the diabetes and weight loss drug, semaglutide and a rare eye disease that causes blindness.
The condition, called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), affects around 2.3 people per 100,000Trusted Source people in the United States.
The new study finds that people with diabetes who were prescribed semaglutide — which is marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, among other names — were more than four times more likely to develop NAION compared with people with diabetes on other medications.
Similarly, those who were prescribed the drug to treat overweight or obesity were over seven times more likely to receive a NAION diagnosis than people taking other weight loss drugs.
What is NAION?
Despite being relatively rare, NAION is a significant cause of blindness in the U.S. It causes a painless, permanent loss of vision, which often occursTrusted Source when waking from sleep.
Medical News Today spoke with Joel Kopelman, MD an oculofacial plastic surgeon and board-certified ophthalmologist.
He explained that: “This vision loss can range from mild to severe. The condition can progress quickly, with most of the vision loss occurring within days to weeks of the onset of symptoms.”
Kopleman, who was not involved in the recent study, also told us that NAION has “an estimated incidence of 2-10 per 100,000 people annually in the United States. The prevalence is similar globally,” he explained, “although exact figures can vary based on regional health demographics and reporting practices.”
Most commonly, it affects middle-aged or older white people. Generally, it only affects one eye at a time. However, for around 43% of people, their other eye becomes affected within the following 3 years.
💉 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-like-ozempic-wegovy-linked-to-eye-condition-causing-vision-loss 👀
The Many Lies
About The Ozempic Weight Loss Craze
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**
The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All
content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in
this video is for general information purposes only and does not
replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional **
Northeast Ohio Woman Reports Vision Loss
From Taking Ozempic
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https://youtu.be/CLXUZGfTP7Y?si=UyOvk9l6A1J2zeq-
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https://youtu.be/CLXUZGfTP7Y?si=UyOvk9l6A1J2zeq-
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