Researchers are urging caution in the use of popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy after a link was established between their use and a higher risk of vision loss.
A media report said the study by Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, Massachusetts was the first to discover that semaglutide, which is sold as the weight-loss drugs, could expose people to a greater risk of developing optic nerve disease known non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
The disease is believed to be caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve head, with the consequence of permanent visual loss in that eye.
Their research revealed those taking the drugs to combat diabetes were more than four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION. And patients prescribed semaglutide who were overweight or had obesity were more than seven times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION.
The study was led by Dr Joseph Rizzo, MD, director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service at Mass Eye and Ear and the Simmons Lessell Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.
It was published in JAMA Ophthalmology.
“The use of these drugs has exploded throughout industrialised countries and they have provided very significant benefits in many ways, but future discussions between a patient and their physician should include NAION as a potential risk,” he said.
“It is important to appreciate, however, that the increased risk relates to a disorder that is relatively uncommon.”
The researchers analysed the records of more than 17,000 Mass Eye and Ear patients treated over the six years since Ozempic was released in 2017.
They divided their cohort into those with diabetes and others with weight or obesity issues, and compared those prescribed semaglutide with those on other diabetes or weight loss drugs.
That analysis established the significant risk increases in those taking semaglutide.
But Dr Rizzo cautioned that while the research did establish the link it did not prove causality.
“Our findings should be viewed as being significant but tentative, as future studies are needed to examine these questions in a much larger and more diverse population,” he said.
“This is information we did not have before and it should be included in discussions between patients and their doctors, especially if patients have other known optic nerve problems like glaucoma or if there is preexisting significant visual loss from other causes.”
More reading
Unilateral glaucoma or historic non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)?
Twenty-first century collaborative glaucoma management in regional Australia
An optometrist’s role in the diabetic care team
