MASSACHUSETTS: A new study has revealed that people who take popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic or Vigovi have an increased risk of developing a rare disease called blindness.
Doctors at Mass Eye and Ear Hospital in the US have recently seen an extraordinary increase in the number of patients with NAION, a type of eye disorder that causes the sudden loss of vision in one eye.
The condition is relatively rare, with 10 out of 100,000 people in the general population experiencing it. But doctors noted three cases in a week and each of these patients was taking either or both of the above-mentioned drugs.
Lead researcher Dr. Joseph Rizzo said the use of these drugs has spread in industrialized countries. Although these drugs have provided significant benefits in many aspects, future patient-physician discussions should include the potential risk of NAION due to this drug.
He added that the research findings should be viewed as important but inconclusive as future studies are needed to further elucidate and research with diverse populations.