Multiple legal cases have been filed against manufacturers of popular GLP-1 medications in the United States, alleging that products including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound caused nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION. This rare eye condition restricts blood flow to the optic nerve and can result in permanent vision loss. The litigation represents a potential challenge to an industry projected to generate approximately $100 billion in annual sales within the next decade.
NAION manifests as a sudden, painless reduction in vision caused by diminished blood flow to the optic nerve, sometimes referred to as an eye stroke. The damage caused by the condition is typically irreversible. One Pennsylvania plaintiff described her vision as resembling looking through a “fishbowl” following her diabetes medication use, with a NAION diagnosis coming two weeks later. Researchers have noted that when the condition develops in GLP-1 users, it typically occurs within the first six to 18 months of beginning medication.
The law firm Weitz & Luxembourg has filed more than 90 lawsuits against Novo Nordisk in New Jersey state court since 2025, with additional cases brought in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Novo Nordisk has stated the lawsuits lack merit and is contesting them vigorously, while Eli Lilly indicated it is reviewing data on potential health risks.
Scientific findings on the issue remain inconsistent. A company-funded Novo Nordisk study involving randomized trials concluded the drugs do not increase NAION risk, with the company’s senior medical officer stating there is “no causality” and no reason for concern. The European Medicines Agency suggested the condition could affect one in 10,000 GLP-1 users with diabetes. Both the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology acknowledged a small possible increased risk while noting that other studies report no correlation and that the overall risk magnitude remains low.
The US Food and Drug Administration has been investigating the connection following early reports in 2024, but no warnings have been added to GLP-1 medications as of this date.
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