Lawsuit Alleges Ozempic Caused Sudden Eyesight Loss

Doctors have told the plaintiff that her severe and sudden eyesight loss is likely a permanent condition.

An Indiana woman has filed a lawsuit claiming that neither she nor her doctor were ever warned that Ozempic injections could result in loss of vision when she was prescribed the drug to lower her blood sugar.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Melanie Thompson in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on August 27, naming Novo Nordisk Inc. and Novo Nordisk A/S as the defendants. The case will be consolidated with hundreds of other similar claims for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

Thompson’s lawsuit is one of many alleging that Novo Nordisk and other manufacturers failed to warn consumers that GLP-1 receptor agonists, like Ozempic, its weight loss formulation, Wegovy, and competitor Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, may cause sudden and permanent vision loss.

Ozempic Eyesight Loss

Ozempic (semaglutide) and other GLP-1 medications have become widely used in recent years for diabetes and weight management, as studies linked the drugs to substantial improvements in blood sugar control, weight loss and other metabolic health risks. Their popularity led manufacturers to introduce additional GLP-1 formulations specifically marketed for weight loss.

However, concerns about potential eyesight complications emerged after a 2024 study linked GLP-1 medications, particularly semaglutide, to an increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION occurs when reduced blood flow damages the optic nerve, potentially causing sudden and permanent vision loss. Researchers found that individuals prescribed semaglutide for diabetes were more than four times as likely to develop NAION, while those prescribed it for weight loss were more than seven times as likely to be diagnosed with the condition.

Following these findings, dozens of individuals have filed Ozempic eyesight loss lawsuits, often describing sudden vision problems that developed with little or no warning. The claims allege manufacturers knew or should have known about the potential risk of NAION and permanent eyesight damage, but failed to provide adequate warnings to users and the medical community.

Ozempic NAION Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Thompson was first prescribed Ozempic in May 2024 to help lower her blood sugar and control her Type 2 diabetes. Everything seemed fine until the morning she woke up to discover she had lost a significant amount of her vision.

While Thompson stopped receiving the injections, doctors informed her that her eyesight loss is likely permanent. The lawsuit notes that this has been a life-changing event for Thompson.

“Ms. Thompson will never see clearly again as a result of her usage of Ozempic. Defendant knew or should have known that use of semaglutide could lead to severe and debilitating injuries suffered by Plaintiff and numerous other patients. Defendant continues to downplay the risk of NAION and has not changed or provided any warnings to the public and medical community.”

– Melanie Thompson v. Novo Nordisk Inc. et al.

The lawsuit alleges Novo Nordisk’s failure to warn about the risk of vision loss was not accidental, but part of an effort to protect sales of Ozempic and Wegovy despite the potential for serious eye injuries.

The complaint further claims the company failed to update the drugs’ warning labels or adequately alert doctors that individuals taking semaglutide may need to be monitored for signs of vision problems, which could allow treatment to be discontinued before additional damage occurs.

Thompson’s lawsuit presents claims of failure to warn, design defect, negligent failure to warn, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and marketing, breach of warranty, and violations of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Fraud Act. She seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

Ozempic Eyesight Loss Lawsuits

Thompson filed her lawsuit directly in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where federal GLP-1 eyesight loss lawsuits are being coordinated before U.S. District Judge Karen Marston.

The claims involve individuals who developed NAION and other serious vision problems after using Ozempic, Wegovy and similar GLP-1 medications. Plaintiffs allege the drug manufacturers failed to adequately warn that treatment may increase the risk of sudden and potentially permanent eyesight loss.

The court is expected to move the NAION cases through coordinated discovery, expert proceedings and the selection of representative lawsuits for potential bellwether trials. Those early trials may help the parties evaluate the strength and value of similar claims and determine whether broader Ozempic eyesight loss settlements are possible.

Judge Marston is also overseeing a larger group of GLP-1 stomach paralysis lawsuits involving gastroparesis, intestinal blockages and other serious gastrointestinal injuries. Those claims involve a separate group of plaintiffs and are proceeding separately from the eyesight loss cases.

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