Mass Eye and Ear researcher explains link between weight loss drugs and blindness [Video]

Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear give new insight into research that shows an association between popular drugs used for weight loss and a rare form of blindness.According to this new study from Mass Eye and Ear, there is a moderately elevated risk for blindness for users of Wegovy and Ozempic. The rare disorder is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, which is a stroke impacting the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain and can cause permanent damage.The study found people who were prescribed semaglutide, which is the main ingredient in Ozempic or Wegovy, were four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAOIN if they were diabetic.Patients who had obesity were more than seven times more likely to be diagnosed with the rare disorder. Semaglutide doesn’t necessarily cause the disorder, but it is associated with it.Researchers say the findings show semaglutide doesn’t necessarily cause …