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A new paper indicates a potential association between eye stroke and Wegovy. However, further investigation is warranted.(Image credit: Zarina Lukash via Getty Images)Share this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleSubscribe to our newsletter
The popular weight-management medication Wegovy, now available in a convenient pill format, has recently been flagged in a study for a possible risk of “eye stroke,” also known as ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), which can lead to swift vision impairment.
Nevertheless, individuals using Wegovy need not be alarmed, according to experts speaking to Live Science. Currently, the connection between the medication and eye stroke is far from conclusive, and the incidence of the condition is exceptionally rare. The study, published in March in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, reported ION in fewer than 1% of patients who documented experiencing adverse effects while taking Wegovy.
She further indicated that the U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency—the U.K. counterpart to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—is advising individuals using semaglutide to “seek prompt medical attention if they observe a rapid decline in their vision.”
A potential signal
This is not the first instance where a link has been suggested between weight-loss drugs and ocular health concerns.
A review of existing medical literature in 2025 identified a potential risk associated with semaglutide. Across clinical trials and observational studies, the drug exhibited a slightly elevated risk of eye stroke in individuals using it for diabetes management compared to non-users. This increased risk was not observed in patients utilizing the drug for weight reduction, and the overall occurrence of eye stroke among semaglutide users remained low.
The recent BJO study builds upon this prior work, examining Wegovy in greater detail, a widely prescribed medication for chronic weight management. The findings revealed a correlation between Wegovy and ION, a condition arising from impaired blood flow to the optic nerve, resulting in damage that can precipitate rapid vision loss.
“It’s a very abrupt and painless way to lose your eyesight,” Barbara Pierscionek, deputy dean of research and innovation at Anglia Ruskin University in the U.K., informed Live Science. “You can lose vision in one or both eyes. We’re not entirely certain how it occurs, but it is essentially a vascular obstruction within the eye,” commented Pierscionek, who did not participate in the new study.
The research team aimed to ascertain if specific weight-loss drugs posed a greater risk of ION compared to others. To achieve this, they meticulously analyzed reports of adverse effects linked to medications submitted to the U.S. FDA between December 2017 and December 2024.
They identified 31,774 reports pertaining to semaglutide-based medications; out of these, 3,070 were attributed to Wegovy and 20,608 to Ozempic. Twenty-eight of the Wegovy reports mentioned ION, contrasting with 47 reports for Ozempic.
Wegovy and Ozempic share the same active pharmaceutical ingredient.
(Image credit: The Washington Post / Contributor via Getty Images)
Ozempic received market approval before Wegovy, being licensed in 2017, whereas Wegovy was approved in 2021. Accounting for this temporal difference, the study authors concluded that the proportional risk of ION was higher with Wegovy than with Ozempic.
Rybelsus, a less commonly known semaglutide medication approved for managing diabetes, showed no significant association with ION in the study.
Weaknesses of the study
Crucially, the adverse effect reports examined in the study have not been independently verified by experts. Instead, they serve as preliminary indicators of users’ experiences with a particular medication post-approval.
“The research did not directly involve patient examination,” Brian Woods, an ophthalmology specialist at the University of Galway who was not affiliated with the study, informed Live Science via email. “Rather, it involved an analysis of reports submitted to a substantial U.S. drug safety database where potential adverse effects are recorded. Such systems are valuable for identifying possible warning signs but are unable to quantify the actual prevalence of a complication.”
Should a concerning trend emerge within the database, regulatory bodies may initiate a formal inquiry to determine if modifications to the drug’s usage or approval status are warranted.
“The findings from the [BJO study] are based on fewer than 100 instances of ION among tens of millions of entries,” Woods elaborated. “These types of reports are not subject to independent verification and lack critical medical details.” Consequently, while this data suggests a potential link between Wegovy and the risk of eye stroke, further research is necessary to confirm if the medication is a direct cause of the condition.
“The observed adverse effect could be causal, or it could be attributed to semaglutide being administered to individuals already at elevated risk for ION,” Adler explained. For instance, she noted, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are recognized risk factors for ION. It is worth noting, however, that diabetes is also a risk factor for ION, and Ozempic is specifically indicated for individuals with diabetes, whereas Wegovy is not, although some diabetic patients may still qualify for it. Therefore, it is plausible that both Ozempic and Wegovy users might possess a slightly heightened baseline risk for ION.
A key distinction between Wegovy and Ozempic is that the former contains a higher concentration of semaglutide, but its impact on ION risk remains uncertain.
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“It is biologically conceivable that the dosage alone could be responsible, but this remains unsubstantiated,” Woods stated. “At this juncture, there is a significant probability that discrepancies may be influenced by pre-existing risk factors and metabolic dynamics rather than solely by dosage. Thus, the verdict on this crucial factor is still pending.”
If the higher dosage is indeed a contributing factor, this could be a concern, especially since Wegovy recently unveiled a higher-dosage version of its drug.
“An escalated dose would elevate the risk, but exclusively for those who are susceptible,” Pierscionek emphasized. “Not every individual taking these medications is at risk of ION,” she stressed.