- Past Studies Have Found A Potential Link Between Semaglutide and the Eye Condition Called Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (Naion).
- A Recently-Publdary Investigatory Review Reports Nine People Taking Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Experienced Vision Issues.
- The Three Potentially Blinding Eye Conditions Included Naion, Papillitis, and Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy.
As Interest in Taking Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonist Receiver (LPG-1 Agonist) Medications, Such As Zepbound and Wegovy, For Weight Loss, Research Continue to examine potential New Side Effects of First Types of Drugs.
Now, a new investigatory review just published in
LPG-1 Meds and Eye Conditions
According to Bradley Katz, MD, PHD, An Ophthalmologist at The John A. Moran Eye Center and Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at The University of Utah and Lead Author of This Study, It’s Important For Researchers to Continue to Examine How LPG-1 medications might impact other areas of a person’s health.
“Between 2-3% of the US Population prescribed to prescription for one of the medications in 2023,” Katz Told Medical News Today. “SOY PEY PEY PEOPE USING SOY MEDICATIONS IT’S CRITICAL TO MONITOR ANY ILL EFFECTS ON THE EYE OR OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY.”
For this investigative study, Katz and His team focused on nine patients with an average age of about 58, With Five Females and Four evil.
Seven of the Study Participants Developped Naion, Which Katz Explained Is a Stroke of the Optic Nerve – The Nerve That Connects Your Eye To Your Brain – Potentially Irreversible Causing Vision Loss In One Ort Both Eyes.
“One (participant) reveals Stroke in the Retina – this is the part of your eye that absorbs light and tours it into an electrical signal for your brain,” I have continued. “This Stroke Also Irreversible Causes Loss of Vision in One Eye.”
“The Ninth Patient Developed Swelling in Botic Nerves But Did Not Lose Vision,” Katz Added.
Rapid Blood Sugar Changes May Behind Eye Issues
WHILE IT IS STILL UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT MAY CAUSE PERSON TAKING A LPG-1 MEDICATION TO EXPERIENCE AN EYE ISSUE, HYPOTHES REFOTHERS THAT RAPID CHANGES IN BLOOD SUGAR SUGAR LEVELS MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO THESE EYE EYE COMPLICATIONS.
“BeSe Drugs Are Vray Effective at Reducting Blood Sugar and When One Rapidly Reduces Blood Sugar it can cause swelling in the optic nerve,” Katz Explained.
“It Can Also Temparaily Worsen Diabetic Eye Changes. How it causes swelling is thought to be due an osmotic shift. When there’s more ‘stuff’ in your blood – in this case sugar – and you Suddenly reduces the amount of stuff in the Blood, it causes rapid shifts in fluid Between Blood vessels and cells in the eye, ”He Said.
Katz Also Stated that they are not recommending Anyone Stop Using Glp-1 Drugs or Not Use The Drugs if they recommended by Their Doctor.
“What we are recommending is that If you experience Change in Your Vision While Using One of First Drugs, You Should the Consult The Prescribing Doctor and see an ophthalmologist. We Are Also Recommending that if patients are starting these drugs or increasing the dose of these drarugs, They Should do So Slowly to Reduce The Risk of Dropping Their Their Blood Sugar and Causing An Osmotic Shift. ”
– Bradley Katz, MD, PHD
“We As Well as OTher Concerned Physicans Are Also Asking Fda To Mandate A Post-Marketing Survey of these Drugs to Find the True Incident of Eye Complications Associated With Them. We are in discussions with other Groups Around the Us Who Want To do a More Comprehensive Review of these medications and ocular potential Side Effects, ”Katz Added.
IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF LPG-1 POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
MNT Had the Opportunity To Speak with Mir Ali, MD, A Board Certified General Surgeon, Bariatric armedon, and Medical Director of Memorialcare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Ca, About This Study.
“This sems to be a rare and unusual complication of LPG-1 medication use, as million People Have Been Using these Types of Medications for Many Years,” Ali Commeable. “Since this is so rare to complication, in so few patients, it is difficult to delineate the exact mechanism; I Really Can’t Comment on Why This Would Happen. ”
“As with all medications, If a Patient Notices a signant change in vision, or Any Other System, They Should contact their prescribing provider. Since there is Widespretad Use of these Medications, it is important for people to Beeware of All Potential Side Effects and Complications. However, since eye Problems Are Very Rare, It Probablay Would not impact the frequency people on before medications Should have their eyes examined. “
– Mir Ali, MD
“As with All Research, Finding a Greater Sample of People APFFECTED BYSE CONDIONS USING GLP-1 MEDICATIONS MAY HELP TO IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS FORSE TYPES OF PROBLEMS,” ALI ADDED. “If a Risk Factor for Eye Problems is identified, and sumone you have also factor, The May Be a Reason for a person to Avoid these medications.”
Eye Exam Prior to Starting Glp-1 Drugs May Be Adisted
MNT Also Spoke with Howard Krauss, MD, Neuro-Ophthalmologist and Director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center At Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Ca, About This Study.
“The proposed mechanisms of ‘Injury’ Put forward by the authors are Worthy of Investigation,” Krauss Said. “Frequent – At least annual –
“Those Who Wish to Take An Extra Step of Caution, May Choose To Have An Eye Exam Prior to Initiating Treatment To Determine Their Ocular Health Status and To Query If They May Have A ‘
In Eye Exams, Healthcare Professionals use the c/d ratio, Also Known as the cup-to-disc ratio, to Assess the Health of the optic nerve. A Lower Ratio in People Who Use LP-1 Medications May Point To A Higher Risk of Developing Naion, Which Affects Blood Flow to The Optic Nerve.
“Adionionionally, Assessment and Control of Other Risk Factors (EG, Sleep Apnea) May Be Considers Prior to Or Concurrent With Initiation of Semaglutide Or Tirzepatide Treatment,” Krauss Added.