A new study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology has raised concerns about a rare but serious eye condition associated with Wegovy, the popular weight loss drug containing semaglutide.
The condition, called ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) — sometimes referred to as an "eye stroke" — involves a sudden loss of blood flow to the optic nerve and can cause vision loss or even blindness. Researchers analyzed more than 30 million adverse event reports from a federal database and found that Wegovy showed the strongest link to ION among the GLP-1 receptor agonists studied, despite having fewer overall reports than Ozempic, the lower-dose diabetes formulation of the same drug.
The higher dose used in Wegovy for weight loss likely plays a role, researchers said, as it leads to greater systemic exposure and faster weight loss, which could affect blood flow to the optic nerve. Men appeared to face a particularly elevated risk. The study also examined tirzepatide, a newer dual-action drug, as well as standard diabetes medications like metformin and insulin for comparison.
Doctors emphasized that the overall risk remains small. However, the findings highlight the importance of awareness among both physicians and the millions of patients currently using these medications. The authors called for further research to better understand the safety profile of semaglutide-based drugs as their use continues to expand worldwide.