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Is Wegovy linked to blindness?
Recent research suggests that taking semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) can potentially increase the risk of NAION developing in people who have overweight or type 2 diabetes.
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Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
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Medically reviewed by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
on Nov 08, 2024.
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Last updated on Nov 08, 2024.
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This news might be concerning if you’re using Wegovy, but knowing exactly what the risks are can help you determine how safe your treatment is, and how at risk you are for developing NAION or any other visual problems.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at what NAION is, how it affects people, and what its connection to semaglutide means for anyone using Wegovy.
- A link has been established between semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, and an eye condition called Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION).
- Studies suggest semaglutide can increase the risk of developing NAION, but this side effect is still considered ‘very rare’.
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded that NAION is likely to affect around 1 in 10,000 people using semaglutide.
- Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnea have been linked to NAION, so making healthier lifestyle choices can help to reduce your risk.
What is NAION?
Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) is a condition that causes a loss of blood flow to your optic nerve, leading to loss of vision. It’s the most common cause of optic nerve swelling in adults over the age of 50, but the reasons why it develops aren’t fully understood.
NAION usually affects one eye at a time, but can also develop in both eyes separately, often years apart. You’re more at risk for developing NAION if you have hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnoea. It’s also thought to affect people at high altitudes. And while it’s possible for anyone to develop NAION, it typically occurs in people aged between 60-70.
What are the symptoms of NAION?
The most common NAION symptoms are:
- Loss of vision, usually in one eye.
- Dimmer, blurred, or darker vision.
- Reduced peripheral vision.
NAION normally causes visual changes without any pain, and the onset of symptoms can be sudden. Only around 10-15% of people who develop NAOIN will experience pain alongside visual changes.
What is the link between Wegovy and NAION?
A link has been established between Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) and semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy. Semaglutide is also used in Ozempic and Rybelsus.
A study found that people with type 2 diabetes who took weekly semaglutide (Ozempic) over a five year period doubled their chances of developing NAION. But while this finding suggests that using semaglutide weekly for five years might double your chances of experiencing NAION compared with not using it, this side effect is still rare.
Another study that focused on 1,689 people found that using semaglutide for 3 years increased the risk of NAION:
- 4 times in people with overweight or obesity (8.9% on semaglutide developed NAION vs. 1.8% not on it).
- 7 times in people with type 2 diabetes (6.7% on semaglutide vs. 0.8% not on it).
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) reviewed the safety of semaglutide with regards to NAOIN development, and concluded that the condition is likely to affect 1 in 10,000 people who use semaglutide. They recommended that NAOIN should be included in the ‘very rare’ list of possible side effects semaglutide can cause.
Have other kinds of medications been linked to NAION?
Along with semaglutide, the development of NAION has been linked to other types of medications, including PDE5 inhibitors. These are used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. But like the results of the semaglutide studies, the link between using PDE5 inhibitors and the development of NAION isn’t conclusive.
Ultimately, more research is needed as to why side effects that affect your vision can occur while taking any medications. But whether you’re using treatment for ED, weight loss, or diabetes, your prescriber should discuss all the risks associated with taking your medication and make you aware of the possible side effects involved.
How can you reduce the risk of getting NAION?
Although it’s not fully clear what causes NAION, there are risk factors that have been associated with it, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), obesity, sleep apnoea and diabetes. So making lifestyle changes can help reduce your chances of developing these conditions, which should lower your risk of getting NAION.
One thing that links all of these risk factors is your weight. Hypertension, obesity and diabetes can all be improved by eating a varied, balanced diet and exercising regularly. And having obesity is thought to contribute to obstructive sleep apnoea, because fat deposits can interfere with your breathing during the night.
There’s lots of free advice about weight loss out there, such as the NHS website which offers a free weight loss plan. Weight Loss HQ is another resource that provides detailed advice about diet and exercise. As well as tips on how to create the calorie deficit needed to lose weight, Weight Loss HQ offers detailed information about nutrition, workout routines for all levels, and a variety of different recipes you can make at home.
Regular eye exams can also help you detect NAION early, especially if you’re more at risk of developing NAION than others. If you have diabetes, you should be referred for a diabetic eye screening every one or two years. While these tests might not check for NAION specifically, they might help spot signs of its development early.
Risks vs benefits of Wegovy
Before you start using Wegovy, it’s important to be aware of all the risks involved. NAION is considered a ‘very rare’ side effect, but how concerned you are by this risk will come down to you personally.
Speaking to a clinician before starting any treatment can give you a clearer picture of any side effects you might encounter. And they will more than likely advise you about some of the more common Wegovy side effects like nausea, dizziness, and an upset stomach, and advise you about ways you can manage them.
So it might be a case of weighing the risks up against the potential benefits of using Wegovy. Staying at a healthy weight can prevent you from developing diabetes, as well as a range of other conditions such as hypertension and heart disease.
Which weight loss injection is right for me?
If you are cautious about taking Wegovy in case it might affect your vision, there are lots of weight loss medications available that don’t contain semaglutide you could try. Mounjaro works in a similar way to Wegovy, but contains the active ingredient tirzepatide.
And if you don’t like the sound of injections, there are tablets and capsules that help you reach your target weight, such as Xenical, Orlistat and Mysimba.
Whichever treatment you choose, speaking to your clinician can help you get the full picture of what your plan involves, and can put your mind at ease about any side effects you might encounter on your weight loss journey.
Reference Popover #ref1
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Kshitij Raizada, and Edward Margolin (2022).
Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing.
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Liu, Yin A, et al (2022).
High Altitude as a Risk Factor for the Development of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.
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Kerr, N.M., Chew, S.S.S.L. and Danesh-Meyer, H.V. (2009).
Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy: A review and update. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.
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European Medicines Agency (2025).
PRAC concludes eye condition NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide medicines Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Reference Popover #ref5
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Hathaway, J.T., et al (2024).
Risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in patients prescribed semaglutide. JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Romero-Corral, A., et al (2010).
Interactions Between Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Chest.
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NHS (2020).
Lose weight. Better Health.
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Grauslund, J., et al. (2024).
Once-weekly semaglutide doubles the five-year risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in a Danish cohort of 424,152 persons with type 2 diabetes. International journal of retina and vitreous, 10(1), p.97.
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