Ozempic making people blind?!

I'm a little concerned about the younger members who are less overweight jumping on these meds. It seems like a huge risk. If you're older or severely obese/diabetic, the benefits likely outweigh the downsides, but for younger, healthier people with a slightly elevated bmi... the risk/reward is less obvious. Imagine going blind at 25 from a weight loss drug. No real way to know the true risk in those populations.
 
I have to agree with Rene. It's all about the risk/reward ratio. Younger folks should really try diet and exercise first. It's like they don't even try. I mean, come on.
 
NAION is a real concern with GLP-1 meds.

Obesity increases the risk.

In Denmark, we've seen about ten cases of significant vision problems, even blindness, linked to these drugs. It was acknowledged last year as possibly related. A friend of mine can't drive anymore because of it, after using Wegovy. He's always tired now.

I always advise my patients to get their eyes checked and report any changes immediately.
 
I actually had a vision check recently too, and my astigmatism in one eye seems to have disappeared! Doctor confirmed. Could be a fluke, but I did have some blurry vision when I started on tirzepatide. Everyone should be watching their eyes carefully.
 
Interesting about the Tirzepatide and vision changes DenverDiva82. I wonder if things like Retinalamin could help, but it's definitely not a replacement for standard treatments. Saw one thing that stood out:

Moody_Gang53 said:
While promising, Retinalamin should be considered an adjunctive therapy, not a replacement for standard treatments like insulin therapy, blood glucose control, and anti-VEGF injections for advanced cases. Always consult a qualified ophthalmologist before use
Click to expand...
 
Seems like these eye problems are tied to Ozempic, or maybe Tirzepatide, but it does leave me wondering about other GLP-1s like Reta. If it's a side effect of the current ones, does that mean Reta is safe? I'm really hoping they figure out what's causing the NAION in some patients. Maybe it's something diet-related?
 
Well, all the GLP-1 meds work on the same GLP-1 receptor. Tirzepatide *might* activate it more strongly, and Reta possibly has less nausea because of the GIP action, but they all hit the same receptor. So, logically, they're all risky for NAION, even if it hasn't been observed yet. Semaglutide's just been around longer, so we know more about the rare, long-term side effects.
 
It sounds like the whole 'just eat less' argument... I don't get the age thing. 'Oh, I'm older, so it's harder to control my eating, but young people are just lazy.' Am I misunderstanding that? Seems like age is being used as an excuse.
 
Before GLP-1s, I was prediabetic and had symptoms. An eye exam revealed high IOP and blurry vision. Scary to think how bad it could have gotten if I hadn't addressed it.
 
You might be right, NAION recently showed up as a side effect of Tirz. Consider any GLP-1 a risk, and consult an eye doctor at the first sign of vision change.
 
Came across a database of reported side effects. Super helpful to see what others are dealing with. I'm sharing it with my clinic. My doctor always says that patients know these meds best. Hopefully it helps us all keep each other safe.

I'd suggest using with caution and remembering this is just anecdotal, not a clinical study.
 
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