They are creating vision issues.
A recent small study has explored the rare occurrence of vision problems in people taking popular GLP-1 weight loss medications, though it’s still unclear whether these drugs directly caused the eye issues.
The study reviewed the cases of nine individuals in their 50s and 60s who developed vision problems, including blood vessel dysfunction around the optic nerve, after using GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound). The aim of the research is to determine if these drugs could increase the risk of such issues, according to Dr. Norah Lincoff, a neuro-ophthalmologist involved in the study.
Published in JAMA Ophthalmology, the study found that seven of the nine patients developed nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition where blood vessels fail to provide sufficient blood to the optic nerve, leading to partial, often permanent, vision loss. This issue was first observed by Dr. Bradley Katz, who noted a case where a patient experienced sudden vision loss after starting semaglutide. When the medication was resumed, vision loss occurred in the other eye. Katz’s inquiry to other ophthalmologists led to the identification of the nine cases reviewed in the study.
In addition to the NAION cases, one patient developed a maculopathy (blind spot in vision), and another had papillitis (inflammation of the optic nerve head). The researchers noted that while NAION has previously been linked to certain medications, including those for erectile dysfunction or irregular heart rhythms, the patients in this study also had underlying conditions such as obesity or diabetes, which are known to contribute to vision problems. This raises questions about whether the vision issues were due to the GLP-1 medications or the patients’ health conditions.
While it remains uncertain if GLP-1s are directly responsible for these issues, the study’s authors suggest that the rapid reduction in blood sugar associated with these medications may, in rare cases, make eyes more vulnerable. Lincoff emphasized that it is still being investigated whether these medications increase the risk of optic nerve damage, advising patients to consult an ophthalmologist promptly if they experience any vision changes. However, the researchers reassured GLP-1 users that such vision problems are rare and that there are alternative treatments for diabetes and weight management.
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