Patients taking weight-loss and diabetes medications Ozempic and Wegovy are at increased risk of developing a rare eye condition that could lead to permanent vision loss, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The agency’s drug safety committee has launched an investigation into medicines containing semaglutide, the active ingredient in these medications.
A review found that non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a disorder caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve, is linked to exposure to semaglutide in people with diabetes. This condition can damage the nerve and result in permanent vision loss.
The EMA has confirmed that patients taking these medications are at a higher risk of developing NAION, with an estimated one in 10,000 people potentially affected. To address this concern, the agency is updating product information to include NAION as a side effect with a frequency classification of “very rare.”
Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/ozempic-has-very-rare-sight-loss-side-effect-eu-drugs-regulator-finds