Ozempic was linked to NAION, an eye disease that can lead to blindness, in a recent study of people with type-2 diabetes who were taking semaglutide.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ozempic induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with NAION, vision loss, or blindness from Ozempic, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Study Links Ozempic and Blindness
In July 2024, Ozempic was linked to a higher risk of an eye disease that can cause vision loss and blindness in a study that was published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
What Happened?
The authors of the study were researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, who noticed reports of NAION in patients with type-2 diabetes who were taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic.
The researchers looked at data on 710 patients with type-2 diabetes who were taking semaglutide, and found 17 cases of NAION. In comparison, there were only 6 cases of NAION among patients who were not taking semaglutide.
What is the Risk?
The researchers estimated that diabetic patients on semaglutide were 4.28-times more likely to develop NAION compared to people with type-2 diabetes who were not taking semaglutide.
Further Study Is Needed to Explore Link Between Ozempic and Blindness
Because the study was observational, it does not prove that Ozempic causes blindness or NAION. Instead, the researchers recommended further study involving more patients to fully explore the risk: “The findings suggest an association between semaglutide and NAION. As this was an observational study, future study is required to assess causality.”
What is NAION?
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), sometimes called an “eye stroke,” is caused by insufficient blood-flow to the optic nerve. NAION typically causes sudden vision loss in one eye, which can lead to blindness in severe cases. There is usually no warning before NAION occurs. People may notice painless vision loss when they wake up in the morning.
Symptoms of NAION
- Painless vision loss
- Dark shadow in vision
- Upper or lower half of visual field may be darkened
- Loss of contrast
- Light sensitivity
- Blindness
- Optic nerve swelling
Type-2 Diabetes Increases Risk of NAION
People with diabetes and cardiovascular disease are more likely to develop NAION. This is possibly due to changes in blood pressure while sleeping, which may cause poor blood-flow to the optic nerve.
How Does NAION Cause Blindness?
Blindness due to NAION is caused by irreversible damage to the optic nerve, which is the nerve that connects the brain to the eye. If the optic nerve loses its supply of blood and oxygen, nerve tissue is permanently damaged, resulting in vision loss and blindness.
How Common is Optic Neuritis?
NAION is the most common cause of optic neuritis in adults over 50 years old. NAION affects between 2.3 and 10.3 people per 100,000 individuals per year, or approximately 6,000 new cases diagnosed every year, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Do I have an Ozempic Blindness Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ozempic induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with NAION, vision loss, or blindness from Ozempic, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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