A recent analysis suggests that Wegovy, a weight-loss injection containing semaglutide, may pose a higher risk of sudden vision loss compared to other semaglutide medications like Ozempic. The study indicated that the likelihood of experiencing an “eye stroke” was three times greater in men than in women.
The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, emphasized a potential safety concern related to the dosage of semaglutide. Although Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus, all manufactured by Novo Nordisk, share the same active ingredient, they vary in dosage and application method.
Wegovy, designed for weight loss and approved by the NHS in higher doses, showed a stronger association with ischaemic optic neuropathy (ION), commonly known as an eye stroke, than Ozempic. In contrast, Ozempic, used for treating type 2 diabetes at lower doses, had more reports due to its earlier approval in 2017.
The analysis of side-effect alerts submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that Wegovy had a higher number of ION cases compared to Ozempic. The odds of developing ION were nearly five times higher with Wegovy than with Ozempic, with a greater risk observed in men than women.
Interestingly, Rybelsus, an oral medication, did not show any reports of ION in the study. Experts speculated that this difference could be attributed to the slower absorption rate of Rybelsus.
Novo Nordisk emphasized their commitment to patient safety and stated that they closely monitor adverse event reports regarding their medications. The company updated the patient leaflets for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus to include information about non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Despite this update, Novo Nordisk maintains a positive benefit-risk assessment for semaglutide products.