Ozempic Eye Side Effects Lead to New Legal Actions
If you or someone you know is taking Ozempic to control diabetes or lose weight, keep reading. Unfortunately, we have more bad news for Ozempic users.
On top of severe gastric problems, an increased risk of developing gallstones, and possible mental health concerns, users may now be facing the risk of Ozempic vision loss.
Recent research out of Harvard University reviewed more than 16,800 hospital patients using medications to manage diabetes or control their weight. The study compared patients using drugs that contain semaglutide, like Ozempic, with patients using medications without semaglutide as an ingredient.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Patients taking Ozempic or other semaglutide medications were four to eight times more likely to develop the severe eye condition nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION. This life-changing optic neuropathy is the second most common form of optic nerve blindness after glaucoma.
Ozempic and Semaglutide Basics
Ozempic is an extremely popular prescription medication that was initially FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is the main ingredient in Ozempic and other drugs, including Mounjaro. This ingredient can lower blood sugar levels by helping the pancreas make more insulin. It also makes the user feel less hungry, so they eat less.
When users reported substantial weight loss after taking the drug, its use exploded for the off-label purpose of weight management. In the past year, many Ozempic users have filed lawsuits alleging these medications are causing severe side effects that the manufacturers never warned about.
What are the Possible Side Effects of Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist receptor drug that mimics insulin and slows gastric emptying to help patients control their diabetes and lose weight, among other actions. When food remains in the user’s stomach and digestive system, they feel full longer and sometimes cannot eat very much. Thus, they lose weight.
Until recently, the majority of side effect complaints reported by patients taking Ozempic and similar drugs were related to digestive tract problems. However, since Ozempic must be taken for the long term, more side effects of semaglutide continue to emerge.
Ozempic Stomach Paralysis Lawsuits and Gallstone Injuries
A large, nationwide Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuit has been established to consolidate all of the lawsuits being filed by Ozempic patients who have experienced gastric problems, including stomach paralysis. Ozempic patients have also developed gallstone issues, and they are joining the multidistrict litigation (MDL) by adding their Ozempic gallstone cases to the mix.
The Lawsuit Legal News team has started following these Ozempic lawsuits. Since the prescribing doctors and patients were never warned about these potentially severe side effects of semaglutide, the LLN legal team is taking action to hold the negligent drug makers responsible for the injuries their drugs have caused.
We work with injured patients to help them recover the compensation they deserve from the pharmaceutical companies that create and sell these dangerous drugs. If you or someone you know has been injured by taking Ozempic or other similar medications, contact our team of product liability lawyers for a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights.
NEW! Ozempic Vision Changes
Following the findings of the July 2024 Harvard study published by JAMA Ophthalmology, users of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic are now facing a heightened risk of developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a serious eye condition linked to sudden vision loss. The research revealed that Type 2 diabetic patients using semaglutide had an 8.9% risk of developing NAION, compared to just 1.8% in those on non-semaglutide medications. Patients taking semaglutide for weight loss faced a 6.7% risk, compared to 0.8% for those on alternative drugs.
What is NAION?
NAION is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve due to restricted blood flow, leading to symptoms such as:
- Blurred vision
- Color distortion
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Dark or gray spots in the vision that don’t move
- Loss of contrast or light sensitivity
The onset of NAION typically occurs without warning, and vision loss can range from mild to severe. Although most patients do not experience pain, up to 10% may, signaling a possible different cause of vision loss. Unfortunately, there is no cure for NAION, making this condition particularly concerning for Ozempic users.
The initial study results suggest that NAION deserves further investigation, but the evidence points to a strong correlation between semaglutide use and this form of optic neuropathy. LLN continues to monitor this issue closely, and we believe this is an important matter warranting legal attention.
If you or a loved one has experienced vision changes after using Ozempic or other semaglutide medications, please get in touch with our dangerous drug team to explore your legal options.
The researchers suggest these results should be further corroborated. Until then, our LLN team believed there was a strong correlation between semaglutide use and potential vision loss that deserves legal attention. If you think you are experiencing Ozempic vision changes, reach out to our dangerous drug team to learn more.
As of November 2024, the Ozempic and Wegovy litigation has significantly expanded, with a sharp increase in cases reaching over 1,090 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania's multidistrict litigation (MDL). Recent filings emphasize claims of severe side effects, including vision loss linked to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition causing sudden, often permanent, vision loss due to optic nerve damage. This follows a July 2024 study associating semaglutide drugs, such as Ozempic, with a higher risk of NAION, especially in individuals with diabetes or obesity.
Law firms expect cases to continue rising as awareness of Ozempic’s potential vision-related risks spreads. Plaintiffs argue that Novo Nordisk failed to provide adequate warnings about these severe side effects, leading to ongoing scrutiny and legal action. Meanwhile, plaintiffs’ attorneys are pushing for complete discovery to address general causation and specific claims that Novo Nordisk’s marketing practices contributed to these health risks by underrepresenting potential side effects.
FDA Warnings and Label Updates
In December 2024, the FDA updated the labels for all GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic, to include warnings about potential complications during general anesthesia or deep sedation. While this update primarily addresses pulmonary aspiration risks, it reflects the agency's ongoing monitoring of adverse effects associated with these medications.
Ozempic Vision Changes FAQs
Does Ozempic cause eye problems?
According to a recent study out of Harvard University, patients who take medications containing semaglutide, like Ozempic, may have an increased chance of developing a serious optic nerve condition called NAION. As the second most common cause of blindness in adults, Oxempic-related NAION may become an important basis for product liability lawsuits.
Does blurred vision from Ozempic go away?
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, when older patients start taking semaglutide, they may experience blurred vision due to a change in blood sugar level, which can affect the shape of the eye’s lens. Blurry vision is a common Ozempic eye side effect, and usually resolves over time.
NAION, however, is a more serious condition that can lead to blindness. Since the research is just emerging about a possible connection between Ozempic and NAION, it’s too soon to know whether the effects of NAION may be stopped or treated by discontinuing Ozempic use.
How Can the Ozempic Eye Side Effect NAION Affect My Vision?
People suffering from NAION can experience sudden, painless vision loss due to the loss of blood flow to the optic nerve. Younger patients typically have a better recovery prognosis, and any remaining vision should stabilize within a few months.
What is My Ozempic Case Worth?
The LLN team has prepared an explanation of the factors that must be evaluated when determining how much an Ozempic lawsuit is worth. This analysis is based on the damages incurred by injured plaintiffs facing stomach paralysis and other digestive issues. We expect similar factors will also play a role in the value of new Ozempic vision loss lawsuits.
However, since the science is so new, and we anticipate many complications arising from vision side effect claims, it’s too early to place a dollar value on any Ozempic vision loss lawsuit. We are keeping a close watch on these cases, and you can count on LLN to provide the most accurate information about all Ozempic claims as litigation progresses.
If You are Facing Ozempic Eye Side Effects, Contact the Lawsuit Legal News Team to Learn More
Millions of people are taking Ozempic and similar drugs to help them lose weight and control their diabetes. While these semaglutide medications seem to achieve those intended results, thousands of users are also experiencing severe side effects of semaglutide, including Ozempic vision changes.
If you have any questions about possible Ozempic eye side effects or digestive concerns related to these drugs, reach out to the experienced product liability lawyers associated with Lawsuit Legal News for a free consultation. We can answer any questions and keep you informed as new information arises that may affect your future.
Contact us online or by calling 866-535-9515 today.