Bleeding Behind the Eye
Users on Reddit, including medical professionals, have reported and discussed instances of vision issues, including conditions that can involve bleeding behind the eye or similar severe ophthalmological problems, while on GLP-1 medications. The primary concern mentioned is Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), a condition that can cause sudden vision loss.
Reported Experiences and Concerns:
Another user asked, "Anyone experiencing vision issues? When the reports of NAION came out I got pretty scared. Really don't want anything impacting my vision. "[1]
A user on Ozempic for 6 months reported, "my eyesite has gotten worse... Now since I've been on Ozempic I have to wear reading glasses on top of my contact lenses especially to read... Also since Ozempic, I thought I was seeing either something paranormal or maybe my guardian angel or a ghost or something? It shows itself over my left shoulder like a small shooting star, or a flash of white light, or an orb". [6] These symptoms, particularly flashing lights, were highlighted by other commenters as potentially serious, possibly indicating retinal detachment. [11, 12, 13]
A medical professional commented on NAION, explaining it as "acute ischemia to the papillary portion of the optic nerve" and noted that "Specific causality with glp1 is still being looked at so it seems kinda loosely related right now…maybe happens do to an acute change in metabolic regulation or is just coincidental since these patients have all the risk factors". [3]
Another comment mentioned, "From what I understand there are two eye issues. One is early worsening of diabetic retinopathy, a potential side effect of better controlling blood sugar. The second is a large increase in relative risk of NAION in T2DM patients, tho the absolute risk is still low. "[4]
One user shared, "I wasn’t allowed to go on ozempic because it would likely worsen my retinopathy. "[7]
Another user mentioned their eye doctor warned them about the link between drugs like Ozempic/Wegovy and an eye condition causing vision loss, sharing a link to an article. [10]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
Regular Eye Exams: For diabetic patients, annual eye exams with dilation are crucial. [9]
Hydration and Eye Care: One user suggested that GLP-1s can dry out eyes, which can worsen vision problems. They recommended "staying hydrated and using artificial tears. "[9]
Monitoring for Diabetic Retinopathy: It's noted that "Sudden improvement in glycemic control is associated with a worsening of diabetic retinopathy. "[5] Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored. [5]
It is important to note that while these experiences and concerns are shared on Reddit, causality between GLP-1 medications and these specific eye conditions is still under investigation, and many users of these medications may have pre-existing risk factors for eye problems, such as diabetes.
Reported Experiences and Concerns:
- One user described a patient on Wegovy who experienced NAION, stating, "NAION - had a patient on wegovy wake up with no vision in one eye and apparently it’s irreversible".
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
- Immediate Medical Attention: The most consistent advice for anyone experiencing vision changes, especially flashing lights or sudden vision loss, is to see an ophthalmologist immediately.
It is important to note that while these experiences and concerns are shared on Reddit, causality between GLP-1 medications and these specific eye conditions is still under investigation, and many users of these medications may have pre-existing risk factors for eye problems, such as diabetes.