GLP-1 drugs, popular for weight loss, get FDA warning of rare vision-loss side effect

Updated on: November 9, 2026 / 7:07 PM EST / CBS/AP

Popular weight loss and diabetes drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, will carry a new warning about a possible rare side effect that can sometimes lead to permanent vision loss, U.S. health regulators announced Monday.

The Food and Drug Administration said the risk will be added to the labeling of all GLP-1 drugs, the blockbuster medications used to treat obesity, diabetes and several other medical conditions. The class includes a dozen injectable or pill-based drugs, including widely used brands like Zepbound and Mounjaro.

The eye condition, known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, can cause significant vision loss. The problem, which has been reported with all GLP-1 drugs, is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve, although the underlying cause isn't understood, the FDA said.

FDA scientists began looking into the problem after the publication of a 2024 medical paper tying the condition to certain patients taking semaglutide, the active drug in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy.

Dr. Joseph Rizzo, a neuro-ophthalmologist who co-authored that paper, told CBS News on Monday that he and his team had been working with the FDA to gather and review…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/