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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring makers of Ozempic, Wegovy and similar drugs to warn of a rare eye condition that can cause vision loss.
The condition is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). It happens when blood flow drops to part of the optic nerve, which carries signals from the eye to the brain.
NAION usually affects one eye. Vision loss comes on suddenly and without pain, and in some cases it's permanent.
The FDA stressed that the risk is rare. Still, the agency wants patients and doctors to know the warning signs.
The new label warning covers every drug in the GLP-1 class. These medicines mimic a natural gut hormone that helps control blood sugar and appetite. Along with Ozempic and Wegovy, the group includes Mounjaro, Zepbound and Trulicity.
Millions of people use these drugs to manage type 2 diabetes or lose weight. Some are also approved to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, or to treat sleep apnea and certain kidney and liver diseases.
The FDA began looking into the issue after a 2024 study raised concerns about semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. The agency then reviewed other studies, real-world patient records and reports of side effects.
Across 126 clinical trials, the eye condition turned up in about six of every 100,000 GLP-1 users each year.
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