A new analysis has found that the weight loss injection Wegovy may potentially carry a higher risk of sudden vision loss compared to other injections of the same type (such as Ozempic).
The research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology highlighted health risks associated with doses of semaglutide.
Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus (all three medicines are manufactured by Novo Nordisk) contain the same active ingredient, but their dosage amounts and purposes of use are different.
Wegovy has been approved by the NHS and is administered in higher doses. In comparison, Ozempic and Rybelsus (which is given in tablet form) are used in lower doses by patients with type 2 diabetes.
For the study, experts reviewed the link between semaglutide and ischemic optic neuropathy (ION). This condition is commonly referred to as “eye stroke”. In this condition, sudden vision may be affected or lost due to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve.
Researchers analyzed side effect reports submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System, which were collected between December 2017 and December 2024.
The number of these reports was more than 30 million, out of which about 31,774 cases were related to semaglutide.
The study also found that men are nearly three times more likely than women to develop “eye stroke.”
