2026 Medical Article Links NAION to Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, Again, With New Study

(Posted by Tom Lamb at Drug Injury Watch)

This drug safety issue of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) associated with semaglutide-containing drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) continues to get more attention with the growing popularity of those drugs. A new study found that the risk of NAION with semaglutide medicines is 2 times higher than that of some other widely used diabetes drugs, as reported in this February 2026 medical journal article, “New-Onset Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Initiators of Semaglutide in US Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes“.

For an overview of this new study evidence about the risk of NAION with semaglutide medicines (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus), we present the “Key Points” section from this February 2026 JAMA Ophthalmology article:

Question Is semaglutide associated with an increased risk of incidence of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) compared with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients with type 2 diabetes?

Findings In this study, among a group of US veterans with type 2 diabetes, initiation of semaglutide was associated with a 2-fold higher risk of incident NAION compared with initiation of an SGLT2i, with overlap weighted cumulative risks of 0.29% vs 0.13% over a median follow-up of 2.1 years.

Meaning While absolute incidence of NAION is low in patients initiating semaglutide, medical counseling about this potential complication, which can result in substantial loss of vision, may be warranted.

To provide a better understanding of how this new study links NAION to Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, again, here are some excerpts from that February 2026 medical journal article:

Introduction
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), is increasingly used for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, with 15 million US adults taking it. Although effective for glycemic control, weight loss, and cardiovascular risk reduction, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) has emerged as a serious rare adverse event. Studies show conflicting associations. To address limitations of heterogeneous data sources, design quality, low NAION event rate, and short follow-up, we emulated a target trial within the Veterans Health Administration, US’s largest integrated health care system from 2018 through 2025.

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Discussion
During 2018 through 2025, semaglutide initiators among US veterans with T2D taking metformin had a 2-fold higher NAION risk than SGLT2i in 2.1 years of median follow-up after extensive covariate adjustment (overlap-weighted cumulative absolute risks: 0.3% vs 0.1%).

Findings align with growing evidence linking GLP-1RAs, particularly semaglutide, to NAION. Large observational analyses reported similar 2- to 3-fold risks, whereas others observed attenuated or null associations. Absolute incidence remains low (approximately 1 additional case per several thousand treated patients).

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Conclusions
In conclusion, veterans with T2D taking metformin who initiated semaglutide had a 2-fold higher NAION risk than those who initiated SGLT2i, although absolute risk was low. This study supports medical counseling about NAION risk and implications for vision loss after semaglutide initiation.

[Footnotes omitted]

NAION Risk For Semaglutide Medicines

“Drug-Safety Signal”

A February 12, 2026, MedPage Today news story, “Potentially Blinding Eye Condition Tied to Ozempic Again“, that reported this new study evidence also provided some background information about a “drug-safety signal” about the risk of NAION with semaglutide medicines:

The signal was first flagged in 2024 by researchers who found a 4.28-fold higher NAION risk in diabetic semaglutide users compared with those not on a GLP-1 drug. That study also reported a 7.64-fold higher NAION risk in users of semaglutide for overweight or obesity. Since then, additional research highlighting this link has included a review of over 3 million patients, a case series, and a review of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) data.

In 2025, the European Medicines Agency recommended updating semaglutide labels to include NAION as a “very rare” side effect (affecting up to one in 10,000 users). While the FDA has not yet issued a formal warning, its Sentinel System is actively investigating the link.

We have been following and writing about the risk of NAION with semaglutide medicines (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) since July 2024. This is our most recent article, “NAION Eye Side Effect for Ozempic and Mounjaro: Drug Injury Lawsuits Update January 2026“.

More recently, drug injury lawsuits are being filed against Novo Nordisk for its failure to warn patients using Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Ozempic about the risk of NAION with semaglutide medicines.

If you are interested in possibly filing such a drug injury lawsuit seeking legal compensation for a NAION after using semaglutide medicines, you can submit an Ozempic / Wegovy / Rybelsus Vision Loss Case Evaluation Form online. It is free, confidential, and there is no obligation.

In the alternative, if you have a possible NAION semaglutide drug injury lawsuit involving Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus to be investigated, you can email (TJL@LambLawOffice.com) or call (910-256-2971) me, drug injury attorney Tom Lamb.

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