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Ozempic Lawsuits Raise Alarms Over Vision Loss and Other Serious Side Effects

As global usage of GLP-1 weight loss drugs grows, lawsuits in the U.S. accuse drugmaker Novo Nordisk of failing to warn patients of potential blindness risk

• By Pooja Chaturvedi Sah
• New Delhi
• Apr 30, 2025

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A 62-year-old Maryland man, Todd Engel, has filed a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk, the maker of the diabetes drug Ozempic, after he became legally blind just four months into treatment. Engel, who was using the drug to manage Type 2 diabetes, was diagnosed with a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which causes sudden and irreversible vision loss.

Filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, the case alleges the drugmaker knew of potential links between Ozempic and NAION during clinical trials but failed to include adequate warnings for patients or doctors.

Engel is not alone. A woman from North Carolina, Elizabeth Pennell, has also filed a similar lawsuit this month, saying she suffered vision loss due to Ozempic use. These cases add to growing scrutiny of the drug and others in the same class—GLP-1 receptor agonists—including Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro, which have surged in popularity for their weight loss effects.

Potential Eye Damage Under the Scanner

NAION is rare, affecting about 10 in every 100,000 people over age 50, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. However, researchers are beginning to explore a possible link between semaglutide—the active compound in Ozempic—and increased risk of NAION, particularly in diabetic patients, who are already more prone to eye disorders.

A Harvard study published in July 2024 suggested that users of semaglutide may face a seven-fold higher risk of developing NAION. A follow-up analysis in January 2025 prompted the Danish Medicines Agency to request a formal investigation by the European Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee.

Novo Nordisk, in a statement, denied any causal link between Ozempic and NAION. It maintained that eye problems are a known complication of diabetes itself and that current data does not support changing the drug’s safety labeling.

“I’ll Never See My Wife Smile Again”

Engel’s attorney, Jonathan Orent of Motley Rice law firm, said his client first lost vision in one eye before becoming legally blind in both. The disability has forced Engel to quit his job and changed his daily life permanently.

“He made a comment to me about how it’s painful to know he’s never going to see his wife smile again, but he knows her voice so well, he can tell when she is smiling,” Orent told the media.

According to the lawsuit, if Engel had been made aware of the risk of blindness, he would have considered alternative treatments for diabetes.

India Watches Closely as GLP-1 Drugs Gain Ground

While the lawsuits are unfolding in the U.S., India too has witnessed rising interest in GLP-1 drugs. Though semaglutide is primarily marketed here as a diabetes drug, the weight loss trend has started influencing off-label use, particularly in urban metros.

Indian endocrinologists have cautioned against self-medication or casual prescription of GLP-1 drugs, citing both gastrointestinal and neurological side effects.

“The newer GLP-1 drugs are promising, but they are not without risks and need close clinical supervision,” varipus experts and doctors have expressed caution. 

Mounting Global Legal Pressure

In the U.S., these vision-related lawsuits are in addition to thousands of claims involving gastrointestinal injuries—such as gastroparesis, ileus, and intestinal blockages—linked to Ozempic and similar medications. These have been consolidated under a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Pennsylvania, where early trial cases are expected to shape potential future settlements.

A recent review also raised mental health concerns. Research published in Current Neuropharmacology this month indicated that GLP-1 drugs may alter dopamine activity, possibly increasing depression and suicidal ideation in genetically predisposed individuals. The European Medicines Agency is already investigating these psychiatric side effects.

What Lies Ahead

As global demand for GLP-1 drugs soars—propelled by endorsements from celebrities and viral social media trends—the mounting reports of severe side effects are prompting regulators, researchers, and clinicians to urge more caution and long-term safety evaluations.

While the benefits of weight loss and diabetes management are well established, health experts emphasize the importance of weighing them against emerging risks.

“This is not a sprint,” said Dr. Dan Azagury of Stanford University, commenting on the pressure to lose weight rapidly. “You need a team to follow you and help you. Slow and steady wins this race.”