Ozempic and Wegovy will have a warning for vision loss in the USA

The FDA has announced that medications for diabetes and weight loss, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, will now carry a warning about a rare side effect that can lead to vision loss. This warning will be included in the labeling of all GLP-1 class drugs, which are widely used for obesity and diabetes treatment. The condition, known as anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, can cause significant vision loss due to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. The FDA's investigation was prompted by a 2024 study linking this issue to semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic. Approximately six out of 100,000 patients using GLP-1 medications for at least a year experienced this problem, compared to fewer than four per 100,000 in those taking placebos or other glucose-lowering drugs. Symptoms include blurred vision and visual disturbances.