Wegovy Linked To Higher Risks Of Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy And Sudden Vision Loss Than Other Semaglutide Medications

New analysis finds Wegovy users have 5x higher odds of ischaemic optic neuropathy than Ozempic users, with men facing 3x the risk of sight loss compared to women.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:12 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from BMJ Group

Analyzing the Link Between GLP-1 Agonists and Vision Loss

The rapid global adoption of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management and diabetes has brought intense scrutiny to their long-term safety profiles, particularly regarding rare ocular complications. According to an analysis of over 30 million reports in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, researchers have identified a specific association between semaglutide formulations and ischaemic optic neuropathy (ION). This condition, often described as an "eye stroke," occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is interrupted, leading to sudden and often permanent sight loss in the affected eye.

Comparing Safety Signals Between Wegovy and Ozempic

While multiple forms of semaglutide are currently on the market, the study found that the risk profile varies significantly depending on the specific product and dosage. According to the research published by the BMJ Group, Wegovy showed the strongest association with ION despite being launched more recently than Ozempic. The data indicates that the odds of developing this ocular complication were nearly five times higher for those using Wegovy compared to those on Ozempic, suggesting that the higher approved dose of 2.4 mg for obesity may be a primary driver of the safety signal.

Disproportional Risks for Male Patients

When the researchers stratified the adverse event reports by sex, a striking disparity emerged in how the drug impacts different populations. According to the investigation, the risk of experiencing an eye stroke while using Wegovy was more than three times higher in men than in women. While Ozempic showed a stronger safety signal in women compared to other diabetic medications, the male-specific risk associated with high-dose Wegovy reached nearly 116 times the expected odds, a finding that researchers believe warrants immediate attention from prescribing physicians and regulatory bodies.