Two large studies from the University of Southern Denmark have found that people with type 2 diabetes who use the drug Ozempic might have a higher chance of developing serious eye damage.
The condition they focused on is called NAION, which stands for non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. This condition affects the optic nerve and can lead to permanent vision loss.
NAION happens when blood flow to the optic nerve is suddenly reduced. This can damage the nerve and cause blindness in one eye, sometimes without warning. Although this condition is rare, it can have serious effects on a person’s vision.
The risk was first noticed in a smaller American study, which found that Ozempic more than doubled the chance of developing NAION. The new Danish research confirms these results and adds new details, using health data from both Denmark and Norway.
The researchers looked at the medical records of more than 424,000 people with type 2 diabetes. Over 106,000 of these people were using Ozempic. They found that those who took Ozempic were about twice as likely to get NAION compared to people using other diabetes drugs.
Jakob Grauslund, a professor of eye health, said that the number of NAION cases in Denmark has gone up since Ozempic became widely used in 2018. Before Ozempic, there were usually 60 to 70 cases each year. Now, there can be up to 150 cases a year, most of them in people with type 2 diabetes.
A second study, led by Professor Anton Pottegård, compared people who had just started taking Ozempic to those who were starting other diabetes drugs. This allowed them to compare similar patients more fairly. The study showed the same result—Ozempic users were twice as likely to develop NAION.
It’s important to remember that NAION is still a rare side effect. Even though the risk is higher for Ozempic users, most people who take the drug will not get this condition. Still, the findings may lead some people—especially those already at risk for vision problems—to think about switching to other medications.
Professor Kurt Højlund, an expert in diabetes care, said that treating type 2 diabetes is still very important. But he added that for people at high risk of vision loss, other drugs might be a better option. If someone already had NAION in one eye, they might need to stop taking Ozempic to protect their other eye.
For people currently taking Ozempic, the message is clear: don’t stop the medication without first talking to a doctor. Ozempic is still a powerful and helpful tool for managing blood sugar in type 2 diabetes.
But this new information helps patients and doctors have better conversations about treatment choices. If you notice sudden changes in your vision, speak to your doctor right away.
Health officials in Denmark and around the world have been told about these findings. Researchers hope this will lead to more personalized treatment plans for people with diabetes. The results have been published in the International Journal of Retina and Vitreous and shared as a preprint on medRxiv.
This research shows that while Ozempic can offer many benefits, like all medications, it comes with some risks. Understanding those risks can help people make better choices and get the best care possible.
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