FDA warns GLP-1 drugs may pose risk of rare condition that causes vision loss
The risk appears small and data is mixed, but FDA wants patients to be aware.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that popular obesity medications, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro, might increase the risk of a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can result in permanent vision loss. The FDA announced this warning in a drug safety communication and will now require manufacturers of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs to include a warning about this risk on their drug labels.
NAION is caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve, leading to swelling and cell death, ultimately damaging the nerve and causing abrupt vision loss that is often permanent. The exact mechanism by which GLP-1 drugs may cause NAION remains unclear. This condition is uncommon, affecting between two and 10 people per 100,000 in the general population, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmologists, making it difficult to determine a definitive link.
The risk factors for NAION include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are also common among patients taking GLP-1 drugs.
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