Semaglutide is the Active Ingredient in These GLP-1 Drugs Used for Diabetes or Weight Loss

(Posted by Tom Lamb at Drug Injury Watch)

Over the past year, we have written several articles that reference medical reports concerning how the GLP-1 drugs Wegovy and Ozempic increase NAION risk, and can result in significant vision loss or blindness. Here are a few of those earlier Drug Injury Watch articles about non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) that has been linked to Ozempic and Wegovy:

• Ozempic Vision Problems From Semaglutide Apply to Wegovy and Rybelsus, Also (2/21/25)
• Novo Nordisk Semaglutide Drug Ozempic Linked to Vision Loss, Doubling the Risk: December 2024 Update (12/18/24)
• Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Ozempic Eye Side Effects: Semaglutide Linked to NAION (7/5/24)

An October 20, 2025, News Release from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “Do GLP-1 Drugs like Ozempic Cause or Prevent Vision Loss?“, reports that a new study presented this week at the 129th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology found semaglutide can increase the risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons.

In the relevant part, from this October 2025 AAO News Release:

Researchers in an international collaboration across the University of Ottawa Eye Institute, University of Toronto, McMaster University, and Doheny Eye Institute UCLA conducted one of the largest global studies on the topic to date. Using data from the World Health Organization’s global database of drug safety reports, the authors analyzed data on 117,173 patients with diabetes taking semaglutide (GLP-1 drugs [Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as Rybelsus]), empagliflozin, exenatide, tirzepatide, or insulin.

Results showed that people using GLP-1 drugs were 68.6 times more likely to develop NAION and eight times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy than those taking empagliflozin, exenatide, insulin or metformin. The analysis found no significant association between tirzepatide (the active ingredient in other GLP-1 medications including Mounjaro and Zepbound) and NAION or diabetic retinopathy. [Emphasis added]

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The extent to which Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Ozempic increase NAION risk has led to drug injury lawsuits being filed by patients against the responsible pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk. Here is an April 2025 Drug Injury Watch article that you can read to learn more about lawsuits involving NAION, titled “Ozempic Vision Loss Lawsuits Have Been Filed by Patients Against Novo Nordisk“. That article lists some of the legal liability allegations regarding Novo Nordisk’s actions and failures. It also points out that the current Ozempic drug label does not warn about NAION as a possible eye side effect that can cause vision loss or blindness.

Let us know if we can assist you with a Rybelsus, Wegovy, or Ozempic lawsuit seeking legal compensation for your NAION eye side effect. You can submit an Online Case Evaluation Form that is specific to these Novo Nordisk semaglutide drugs and vision loss, or call 910-256-2971 to speak with attorney Tom Lamb about your possible drug injury lawsuit against Novo Nordisk.

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