09/25/2026
🚨 Can GLP-1 medications cause blindness? This is making headlines now, but here’s my video from 2024 when we first learned about this.
Yes, studies have linked semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) with NAION—a rare condition caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve that can lead to sudden vision loss.
👁️ BUT, the absolute risk appears to be VERY LOW.
For semaglutide, observational studies have reported rates ranging from roughly 14.5–123 cases per 100,000 patient-years, depending on the population studied.
We have less data for tirzepatide, but one large observational study found NAION in 0.04% of patients taking semaglutide or tirzepatide vs 0.02% of matched patients taking other diabetes medications.
📊 Most importantly: association does NOT prove causation.
These signals come from observational studies—not randomized controlled trials designed to establish cause and effect. In pooled randomized trials of semaglutide/tirzepatide, there was no statistically significant increase in NAION compared with placebo.
So yes, this is a potential safety signal that deserves continued study, but NO this does not prove that GLP-1 medications cause blindness.
⚖️ Furthermore, for appropriately selected patients who meet FDA-approved criteria, we also have to weigh this rare potential risk against substantial demonstrated benefits: weight loss, improved blood sugar control, cardiovascular risk reduction, and reversal of fatty liver disease.
There is also promising emerging research regarding dementia and certain cancers, although these are not established indications.
For most appropriately selected patients, the known benefits may outweigh this rare potential risk.
If you experience sudden vision loss, a new blind spot, or a significant unexplained change in vision while taking one of these medications, seek urgent medical evaluation.
But don’t let a scary headline replace context. Look at the quality of evidence, the low absolute risk, and the risk/benefit analysis.
