A recent study at the University of British Columbia has linked popular diabetes and weight loss medications to vision problems. The study found that nine patients using Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists developed “ophthalmic complications,” including nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, which causes vision loss in one eye.
The average age of the patients was 57.4 years, and all had a history of type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and/or sleep apnea. The study found that seven patients developed NAION, while one patient developed bilateral papillitis and another had paracentral acute middle maculopathy.
The lead author of the study notes that in one case, the patient was taking the drug for weight loss without a prior history of diabetes, and in another case, the condition reappeared when the medication was reintroduced. However, other experts caution that the study’s findings are based on a small sample size and were not controlled.
“We need large, controlled studies to evaluate the long-term health effects of these medications,” says Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. “The story of GLP-1 is still being written, and we’re learning something new about these drugs every day.”
The study’s findings have raised concerns about the safety of GLP-1 medications, particularly those that contain semaglutide, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. However, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of these medications, says that the benefit-risk profile remains unchanged.
For patients using these medications, it is essential to discuss with their doctors the potential risks and benefits and to report any unusual symptoms to their prescribing doctor. Most vision side effects appear to resolve when the medication is stopped.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/weight-loss-diabetes-drugs-linked-vision-problems-small-study