Semaglutide vs. Other GLP-1 Drugs: Is NAION Risk Unique to Ozempic?

GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic (semaglutide) have gained widespread popularity for treating type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss. However, a serious and often irreversible vision condition known as Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) has emerged in medical reporting and research as a potential concern. Notably, some studies suggest semaglutide may carry a higher risk of NAION than other drugs in the same class. If you’ve experienced vision loss while taking Ozempic or similar medications, it’s crucial to understand what the evidence says and what your legal options might be. For a personalized consultation tailored to your specific circumstances, contact Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C., to speak with a New York Ozempic injury lawyer.

Do Semaglutide Users Face Higher NAION Risk?

Emerging population studies suggest that semaglutide may carry an increased risk of NAION relative to other GLP-1 medications or non-GLP-1 treatments.

A large, multicenter study published in JAMA Ophthalmology and covering 37.1 million adults with type 2 diabetes compared patients initiating semaglutide with those on other antidiabetic medications. Researchers found an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.32 for NAION among semaglutide users. While semaglutide’s risk was similar to some non-GLP-1 drugs like sitagliptin (Januvia) and glipizide (Glucatrol), the comparison with empagliflozin (Jardiance) revealed a higher risk (HR: 2.27) when more specific case definitions were used.

Importantly, this study is among the most robust to date. It employed both active-comparator cohort design and self-controlled case series to mitigate biases and adjust for confounders like disease severity and comorbidities. While this new study finds a more modest increase in NAION incidence than was reported in earlier studies, researchers continue to advocate for greater vigilance among healthcare providers prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, which is marketed under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.

What About Other GLP-1 Drugs?

While most studies focus on semaglutide, emerging data offer important comparative insights:

• In the large population study referenced above, dulaglutide (Trulicity) did not show an increased NAION risk. Conversely, exenatide (Byetta or Bydureon) did show a small risk increase, but only under very specific diagnostic criteria.
• A newer JAMA Ophthalmology study—one of the first to compare semaglutide to other GLP-1 agonists—confirmatively suggests that semaglutide carries a higher NAION risk than its peers, although details remain under peer review.
• An editorial published in Eye last May noted that the current evidence is contradictory and still evolving. No consensus yet confirms a unique risk tied exclusively to semaglutide compared to other diabetes and weight-control medications.

What Does This News Mean for Patients?

These findings matter for individuals and clinicians alike. GLP-1 agonists as a class offer substantial benefits, including improved glycemic control, weight reduction, and cardiovascular protection, that millions of Americans have come to rely on, and semaglutide brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy have emerged as the drugs of choice for most patients. However, if semaglutide presents a measurable risk for NAION—especially when alternative GLP-1s might not—the stakes change for those already vulnerable (e.g., with ocular or cardiovascular risk factors) to this serious eye condition, often described as “eye stroke.”

What Should Patients Do?

If you are currently taking or thinking about taking Ozempic or Wegovy, consider these steps:

• Discuss ocular risk with your doctor, especially if you’ve had recent vision changes, glaucoma, or optic disc abnormalities.
• Ask whether an alternative, such as dulaglutide, could fit your needs with possibly lower NAION risk.
• If you experience sudden vision loss, blurred or dim vision, or visual field defects, seek urgent evaluation from an ophthalmologist and notify your prescribing physician immediately.
• Document the timing of your vision symptoms, medication usage, and any prior eye health issues.

Legal Considerations: Why “Right Drug, Wrong Risk” Matters

If you used Ozempic or Wegovy and developed NAION, your medication could form the core of a product liability or failure to warn claim. Establishing that semaglutide carries a higher risk and that other GLP-1s don’t share that risk to the same degree can strengthen your case. It supports arguments that the drug manufacturer should have developed a safer drug or disclosed the risk in warnings, labeling, or during marketing.

Diagnosed With NAION After Semaglutide? Contact New York Ozempic Lawyer Leandros A. Vrionedes Today

If you’ve been affected by troubling visual symptoms after using Ozempic or Wegovy, your choices now go beyond treatment. You have the right to explore legal options and seek justice and compensation through skilled representation. Leandros A. Vrionedes, P.C., is tracking this evolving medical and legal landscape and stands ready to help New Yorkers harmed by semaglutide-related NAION. Contact us today for a free consultation.