Ozempic has become one of the most widely used drugs for treating type 2 diabetes. It helps lower blood sugar, supports weight loss, and reduces the risk of heart-related problems for many patients.
Because of these benefits, millions of people around the world now rely on this medication. However, new research from the University of Southern Denmark suggests that Ozempic may carry a rare but serious risk to eye health that patients and doctors should be aware of.
The concern involves a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, often shortened to NAION. This condition affects the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending visual information from the eye to the brain.
NAION happens when blood flow to this nerve is suddenly reduced. When this occurs, the nerve tissue can be permanently damaged, leading to partial or complete vision loss in one eye. In many cases, the damage cannot be reversed.
NAION is considered rare, but its impact can be life-changing. People who develop it often notice sudden vision loss, blurred vision, or dark areas in their field of view. Because it can happen without warning and has no guaranteed treatment, even a small increase in risk is taken seriously by eye specialists.
The possible link between Ozempic and NAION was first noticed in a smaller study from the United States, which suggested that the drug more than doubled the risk of this eye condition.
To explore this further, researchers in Denmark conducted two large studies using national health data from Denmark and Norway, allowing them to examine the issue on a much larger scale.
In the first study, researchers reviewed medical records from more than 424,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Denmark. Among them, over 106,000 patients were using Ozempic. When the researchers compared Ozempic users with patients taking other diabetes medications, they found that those using Ozempic were about twice as likely to develop NAION.
One of the researchers, Professor Jakob Grauslund, who specializes in eye diseases, also noticed a clear change over time. Before Ozempic became widely available in Denmark around 2018, there were typically about 60 to 70 cases of NAION reported each year.
In recent years, that number has increased to as many as 150 cases annually, with most cases occurring in people who have type 2 diabetes.
The second study took a more focused approach. Led by Professor Anton Pottegård, an expert in pharmaceutical research, this study compared people who had just started using Ozempic with similar patients who had started other diabetes drugs.
By matching patients with similar health profiles in both Denmark and Norway, the researchers were able to make a fair and direct comparison. This study reached the same conclusion: patients using Ozempic had roughly double the risk of developing NAION.
Despite these findings, researchers stress that the overall risk remains low. NAION is still a rare side effect, and most people who take Ozempic will never experience vision problems related to the drug. However, the results suggest that certain patients may need to be more cautious, especially those who already have risk factors for eye disease.
Professor Kurt Højlund, a diabetes specialist at the Steno Diabetes Center in Odense, emphasized that managing type 2 diabetes is extremely important and that Ozempic remains a very effective treatment for many patients.
At the same time, he noted that some people may benefit from using alternative medications that also protect the heart and kidneys without potentially increasing eye-related risks.
For patients who have already experienced NAION in one eye, continuing Ozempic may raise concerns about damage to the other eye. In such cases, doctors may recommend switching to a different diabetes treatment to reduce the chance of further vision loss.
Patients currently taking Ozempic should not stop the medication on their own. Sudden changes in diabetes treatment can be dangerous. Instead, anyone who is worried about their vision or notices sudden changes in eyesight should speak with their healthcare provider as soon as possible.
These new findings can help guide conversations between doctors and patients when choosing the most suitable treatment.
The research has been shared with Danish and international health authorities and may influence future safety recommendations. The studies were published in the International Journal of Retina and Vitreous and as a preprint on medRxiv.
Researchers hope this work will lead to more personalized diabetes care, where treatments are chosen not only for blood sugar control but also for long-term safety.
These findings also serve as a reminder that all medications have both benefits and risks. The goal is not to create fear, but to ensure patients receive the best possible care based on the latest scientific evidence.
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