New Delhi, Popular weight loss drugs have been linked to a rare disease that causes eye blindness, according to a new study.
Patients with diabetes or obesity are commonly prescribed weight-loss medications, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, which contain the protein semaglutide, which helps control blood sugar by promoting insulin production.
A team of researchers, led by people at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital, US, found that obese patients who were prescribed these weight-loss drugs were more than seven times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION, or 'Non Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optics'. Neuropathy', which causes sudden loss of vision in one eye.
They also found that patients with diabetes taking these semaglutide-containing medications were four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION. The findings are published in the Journal of Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
"This information was not available to us before and should be included in conversations between patients and their doctors, especially if patients have other known optic nerve problems such as glaucoma or if there is significant pre-existing visual loss from other causes," the author said. said Joseph Rizzo, director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.
Rizzo emphasized that the increased risk is related to a relatively rare disorder and that more studies are needed since researchers do not know why or how there is a link between taking weight-loss medications and the eye condition.
Therefore, the findings should be "considered significant but provisional," Rizzo said.
NAION is relatively rare, affecting between 2 and 10 people per lakh population, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The condition is believed to be caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve head, resulting in permanent loss of vision in one eye.
In their analysis, the researchers included data from records of more than 17,000 hospital patients diagnosed with diabetes or obesity, who were prescribed medications containing semaglutide or other weight-loss medications.
"The use of these medications has exploded in industrialized countries and they have provided very significant benefits in many ways, but future conversations between a patient and her doctor should include NAION as a potential risk," Rizzo said.
Patients with diabetes or obesity are commonly prescribed weight-loss medications, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, which contain the protein semaglutide, which helps control blood sugar by promoting insulin production.
A team of researchers, led by people at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital, US, found that obese patients who were prescribed these weight-loss drugs were more than seven times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION, or 'Non Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optics'. Neuropathy', which causes sudden loss of vision in one eye.
They also found that patients with diabetes taking these semaglutide-containing medications were four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION. The findings are published in the Journal of Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
"This information was not available to us before and should be included in conversations between patients and their doctors, especially if patients have other known optic nerve problems such as glaucoma or if there is significant pre-existing visual loss from other causes," the author said. said Joseph Rizzo, director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.
Rizzo emphasized that the increased risk is related to a relatively rare disorder and that more studies are needed since researchers do not know why or how there is a link between taking weight-loss medications and the eye condition.
Therefore, the findings should be "considered significant but provisional," Rizzo said.
NAION is relatively rare, affecting between 2 and 10 people per lakh population, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The condition is believed to be caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve head, resulting in permanent loss of vision in one eye.
In their analysis, the researchers included data from records of more than 17,000 hospital patients diagnosed with diabetes or obesity, who were prescribed medications containing semaglutide or other weight-loss medications.
"The use of these medications has exploded in industrialized countries and they have provided very significant benefits in many ways, but future conversations between a patient and her doctor should include NAION as a potential risk," Rizzo said.
