Ozempic Linked to Catastrophic Eye Disease That Can Cause Blindness. As a Texas medical doctor and Texas product liability attorney, I am writing this article to highlight the link between Ozempic use and blindness.
In July 2024, a medical study found an increased risk of an eye disease that can cause blindness in patients on semaglutide, the key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
The medical study published in JAMA Ophthalmology by researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear found an increase of NAION cases in patients on Ozempic and Wegovy.
The researchers found 17 cases of NAION in diabetic patients at their hospital who were taking semaglutide, compared to 6 cases in diabetic patients who were not taking semaglutide. The study linked semaglutide with a 4.28-fold increased risk of NAION.
NAION is short for Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, and it is essentially an “eye stroke” that occurs when a lack of blood-flow damages the optic nerve.
The optic nerve is the cable connection between the brain and the eye. When the optic nerve is damaged due to NAION, patients may experience sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye. NAION is due to a lack of blood-flow which causes swelling of the optic nerve. The optic nerve swelling resolves with time, but the vision loss does not improve.
The optic nerve damage from NAION is permanent, and usually incurable. The vision loss may worsen over the next few weeks, but it does not get better.
About 6,000 people are diagnosed with NAION every year. It is most common in people who are over 50 years old, especially people with risk-factors like type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and use of certain medications.
A case report published in Neuro-Ophthalmology described a 73-year-old man with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hypertension who developed bilateral NAION after significant weight loss and postural hypotension while on semaglutide.
This case suggests that rapid physiological changes, such as weight loss or blood pressure fluctuations, may contribute to NAION risk in susceptible individuals.
Additionally, the FDA’s adverse event reporting system has noted NAION cases linked to semaglutide, though the data is not yet sufficient to establish causality.
As of Friday, July 25, 2025, the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) for Ozempic, titled “In re: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) Products Liability Litigation” (MDL No. 3094), continues to expand in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, presided over by Judge Karen S. Marston.
The MDL, established in February 2024, has grown to include over 1,997 pending cases, with projections suggesting it could reach thousands more as investigations into new claims persist.
The litigation primarily focuses on allegations that Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn about severe gastrointestinal side effects, such as gastroparesis, ileus, and bowel obstruction, linked to Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs.
Recent developments include a surge in cases, with over 500 new filings between April and May 2025, and ongoing pretrial proceedings. The first bellwether trials are not expected until late 2026 or beyond.
In New Jersey state courts, notably Middlesex County, actions have emerged focusing on NAION-related injuries. One of the first such cases was filed on April 15, 2025, alleging that a New Jersey resident developed NAION after using Ozempic, attributing the condition to inadequate warnings by Novo Nordisk.
Additionally, over 20 New Jersey residents filed vision-loss suits in April 2025, prompting requests to consolidate these claims into a single state litigation. These state actions operate under the Multicounty Litigation (MCL) framework, which coordinates similar cases and may align discovery efforts with the federal MDL, though the MCL judge is not bound by federal rulings.
The litigation remains in early stages, with no settlements or trials resolved, and ongoing research continues to shape the scope of claims.
Financial compensation may be available via an Ozempic and NAION lawsuit settlement for people who received name-brand Ozempic injections and suffered from NAION.
Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm is investigating Ozempic and NAION lawsuits against Novo Nordisk for people throughout the United States who have developed NAION injuries that could have been prevented.
To determine if you or a loved one qualifies for an Ozempic and NAION Lawsuit, submit information for review, and we will evaluate the circumstances of your potential claim. There are no fees or expenses paid unless a settlement or lawsuit payout is received.
If you or a loved one uses Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss or diabetes treatment and has developed NAION, contact the attorneys at Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm to learn more about your legal rights. You can speak with one of our representatives by calling 214-390-3189 or by filling out the case evaluation form on this page.
Our law firm’s principal office is in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm represents clients in dangerous drug and dangerous medical device lawsuits nationwide.