Mass Eye and Ear researcher explains link between weight loss drugs, blindness

Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear give new insight into research that shows an association between popular drugs used for weight loss and a rare form of blindness.According to this new study from Mass Eye and Ear, there is a moderately elevated risk for blindness for users of Wegovy and Ozempic. The rare disorder is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, which is a stroke impacting the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain and can cause permanent damage.The study found people who were prescribed semaglutide, which is the main ingredient in Ozempic or Wegovy, were four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAOIN if they were diabetic.Patients who had obesity were more than seven times more likely to be diagnosed with the rare disorder. Semaglutide doesn't necessarily cause the disorder, but it is associated with it.Researchers say the findings show semaglutide doesn't necessarily cause the blindness, but it is associated with it.Doctors say this new information helps patients make more informed decisions when it comes to these drugs."I wouldn't take it as an alarming finding. I would take it as information that will make a lot of us more aware, and hopefully, it will lead to more informed discussions between physicians and patients. Everyone has their own sense of risk. There are some people who will hear this and say, 'I am OK with this. These drugs have helped me so much.' And other patients who may make another decision," says Dr. Joseph Rizzo, a lead researcher and neuro-ophthalmologist at Mass Eye and Ear.Rizzo said this is the first study they've done on the popular drugs and there is still much more research to come in the next few years.