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People taking Ozempic or Wegovy may face an elevated risk of developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare but serious eye condition, according to a recent study.

The research, conducted over six years and encompassing more than 16,800 participants in the Boston area, focused on individuals who initially did not exhibit NAION symptoms.

Researchers examined a subgroup of approximately 1,700 patients who were either overweight, obese, or had diabetes. They compared the incidence of NAION between those prescribed semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, and those who were not.

The Hill reported that among the 194 patients with Type 2 diabetes who took semaglutide, 17 developed NAION within 36 months of observation, marking a diagnosis rate more than four times higher than their non-semaglutide counterparts.

Similarly, among obese individuals using semaglutide, 20 cases of NAION were recorded, representing an eightfold increase compared to non-users of the drug.

The findings, published Wednesday in JAMA Ophthalmology, suggest an association between semaglutide and NAION, though researchers caution that the observational nature of the study necessitates further investigation to establish causality.

In response to the study, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of semaglutide medications in the U.S., emphasized that the research constitutes a single observational study and does not definitively establish a causal link between NAION and semaglutide.

A spokesperson noted the company's commitment to patient safety, highlighting that adverse event reports are taken seriously.

According to Novo Nordisk, NAION is not listed as an adverse drug reaction in the approved labels of semaglutide formulations.