NAION Investigation: If you have been diagnosed after taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza or Saxenda, you may have a case

NOVO NORDISCK’s OZEMPIC, WEGOVY, VICTOZA, and SAXENDA are associated with NAION- nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

If you have been diagnosed with NAION after taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza or Saxenda, you may have a case against the manufacturer for failing to warn you of your risk of NAION. 

Patients taking Ozempic or Wegovy have a significantly increased risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a serious condition that can lead to permanent blindness. This risk is not warned about in the labels of these medications. There is no treatment for NAION and the retinal damage is irreversible. 

What is NAION?

NAION is a serious medical condition characterized by loss of vision. It is caused by damage to the optic nerve as a result of ischemia, or insufficient blood supply. It typically presents as a sudden painless loss of vision in one eye.

SYMPTOMS OF NAION

• Sudden vision loss in one eye
• Gradual vision loss in one eye
• Seeding a shadow or darkened area in your field of vision
• Loss of contrast and light sensitivity
• Loss of color perception
• Light sensitivity

TREATMENT FOR NAION

There are currently no known medications or treatments for NAION.

DOES SEMAGLUTIDE (WEGOVY AND OZEMPIC) CAUSE NAION?

IN June 2025, the World Health Organization published a medical product alert for health-care professionals and regulatory authorities to alert them of the risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) associated with the use of semaglutide medicines, including Ozempic and Wegovy.[1] While the FDA is still reviewing whether regulatory action is required, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has already determined the product information should be updated to include a warning of the risk of NAION with these drugs.[2]

In July 2025, a research letter published in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Ophthalmology reviewed MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters data from 2006 until 2022 involving individuals taking a GLP-1RA. The study found use of any GLP-1RA was associated with 19% higher chance of developing NAION within the first year of use. The findings specifically identified an increased risk associated with liraglutide (the generic for Saxenda). There was a two-fold risk of developing NAION amongst individuals without type 2 diabetes or obesity taking liraglutide. ⁽¹⁰⁾

Multiple studies have been published in JAMA Opthalmology that conclude that there is in fact an association between semaglutide and NAION.

At Berger Montague, we believe all known risks should be disclosed to patients. Berger Montague attorneys are currently signing up clients who have been diagnosed with NAION after taking Ozempic or Wegovy.

[1] The use of semaglutide medicines and risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) (August 19, 2025), https://www.who.int/news/item/27-06-2025-27-06-2025-semaglutide-medicines-naion

[2] European Medicines Agency, PRAC concludes eye condition NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide medicines Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy (August 19, 2025), https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/prac-concludes-eye-condition-naion-very-rare-side-effectsemaglutide-medicines-ozempic-rybelsus-wegovy

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