A major analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration data reveals a stark disparity in vision loss risks between popular GLP-1 medications.
Researchers from Canadian universities examined adverse event reports spanning 2017 to 2024. They found Wegovy was associated with nearly five times the odds of ischemic optic neuropathy compared to Ozempic.
Semaglutide drugs are often administered via injection.
While absolute case numbers remain low within 30 million reported events, the statistical signal is significant. Men faced triple the risk compared to women across all semaglutide formulations.
Experts urge caution as regulators review these findings, noting dose-dependent safety concerns require urgent prospective evaluation.
The research has been published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.