Medical warning: Ozempic and Mounjaro may be linked to vision loss
Medical experts are raising concerns about the potential dangers of weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro following new reports suggesting they may cause severe and possibly permanent vision loss.
According to the Daily Mail, research has linked these drugs to conditions that can inflame and obstruct blood flow to the eyes, leading to blindness. A recent study highlighted nine cases of US patients who experienced vision issues after using semaglutide (Ozempic) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro). These findings have intensified concerns about the safety of these widely prescribed medications.
Patients’ Experiences: Sudden Vision Loss
A woman reported losing sight in her left eye just a day after receiving her first semaglutide injection for diabetes. Although she paused the medication for two months, she had to resume it due to her health condition. Within two weeks of restarting, she experienced vision loss in her right eye as well.
Another patient, who had been taking semaglutide for a year, woke up one morning with a “painless shadow” covering her left eye. Medical examinations revealed extensive damage to the retinal blood vessels, causing blindness.
In another case, a man who had been on tirzepatide for a year developed bleeding in his left eye. However, due to a lack of definitive evidence linking the drug to blindness, doctors advised him to continue taking the medication.
Uncertain causes but increasing concerns
The exact cause of these vision issues remains unknown. However, specialists believe these medications can rapidly lower blood sugar levels, which may damage the blood vessels in the eyes and trigger sudden blindness.
A year ago, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommended that patients experiencing vision problems while taking semaglutide stop using the drug and consult a physician. However, they did not suggest discontinuing these medications altogether.
Danish health officials are also investigating possible links between semaglutide and vision loss. A recent study found that seven of the nine affected patients had nonarteritic ischemic anterior optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition that restricts blood flow to the optic nerve.
Broader side effects of weight loss medications
Weight loss drugs have been associated with several unexpected side effects. While blindness is an emerging concern, patients have also reported thyroid tumors, gastric paralysis, suicidal thoughts, sexual dysfunction, and hair loss.
With an estimated 15 million Americans using weight loss injections, medical professionals emphasize the urgent need for further research to fully understand the risks associated with these medications.
