Doctors at the University of Utah’s Moran Eye Center have reviewed cases of nine patients who developed vision problems while taking widely used diabetes and weight loss drugs. The medications in question—semaglutide and tirzepatide—are the active ingredients in Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
Their findings, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, raise concerns about a possible connection between these drugs and serious eye conditions.
Vision Complications Observed
The patients in the review developed three different conditions that affect the optic nerve, the pathway that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. These conditions included:
- Eye stroke (nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, NAION) – Found in seven patients, this condition occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is reduced, potentially leading to permanent vision loss.
- Papillitis – Seen in one patient, this is an inflammation of the optic nerve head, which can cause blurred vision and pain.
- Paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) – Found in one patient, this affects the central retina and can lead to blind spots or reduced vision.
A Possible Link to Blood Sugar Changes
The researchers do not claim that these drugs directly cause the eye conditions, but they suggest that rapid drops in blood sugar levels triggered by the medications might be a factor. This theory is based on prior research linking sudden changes in blood sugar with worsening diabetic eye disease.
Lead author Bradley Katz, an ophthalmology professor at the University of Utah, emphasized that more research is needed to confirm any link. “This review was not conducted in any way that we can say these drugs caused the complications,” Katz explained. However, he stressed that ophthalmologists should be aware of these cases and communicate potential risks to patients.
Warnings and Ongoing Research
Semaglutide, prescribed to nearly 2% of the U.S. population in 2023, has already been linked to temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease caused by diabetes.
In response, the American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a warning about a potential risk for eye stroke in people taking the drug. A separate five-year study is currently underway to examine the long-term effects of semaglutide on eye disease in people with Type 2 diabetes.
The authors of the study recommend that doctors prescribing these medications to diabetic patients consider using a treatment plan that lowers blood sugar levels more gradually. This may help reduce the risk of vision-related side effects.
Advice for Patients
Doctors do not recommend stopping these medications without consulting a healthcare provider. However, patients taking them should be aware of sudden vision changes. If someone experiences sudden vision loss, they should stop taking the medication and seek medical help immediately.
As research continues, doctors and patients alike will need to stay informed about potential risks while balancing the benefits these medications provide for managing diabetes and weight loss.
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The research findings can be found in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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