Australian regulator TGA warns of ‘rare but severe’ eye disorder linked to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic

The Therapeutic Goods Administration warning came after several GLP-1 RA medicines, marketed in Australia as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro among other products, were linked to 36 cases of the eye disorder, non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. Photograph: James Manning/PA View image in fullscreen The Therapeutic Goods Administration warning came after several GLP-1 RA medicines, marketed in Australia as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro among other products, were linked to 36 cases of the eye disorder, non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. Photograph: James Manning/PA Australian regulator warns of ‘rare but severe’ eye disorder linked to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic TGA says product information for some diabetes and weight loss drugs updated with warning of NAION disorder Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Australia’s medicines regulator has issued warnings for several type 2 diabetes and obesity-related treatments – including Ozempic and Mounjaro – over the potential to cause a “rare but severe” eye disorder that could lead to blindness. The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) warning came after several GLP-1 RA medicines, marketed in Australia as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro among other products, have been linked to 36 cases of the condition. The TGA says the eye disorder – non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) – may result in permanent visual impairment and “no treatment has been shown to improve visual acuity outcomes” after the condition develops. Product information documents for Australians have been updated to reflect the new warning, and patients prescribed the drugs are urged to “seek urgent medical attention if they experience sudden vision loss, including partial loss of vision.” But the TGA does not recommend patients stop treatment without first consulting a doctor, nor has it placed new restrictions on prescriptions. Prof Helen Danesh-Meyer, from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, said that NAION is “a very rare condition” that “needs to be put in perspective” to avoid causing alarm. “Naturally, blindness is something we all fear. It’s one of the greatest concerns that people have,” she said. “But it’s still a very rare condition, while the other conditions these medications treat are very common, like heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease. If it helps manage and prevent those life-threatening risks, then for that patient it is probably better to continue it.” The TGA said it first became aware of the link to NAION in 2024 after a study published in a peer-reviewed medical journal raised concerns, and further evidence of the potential links has since “been closely monitored”. The regulator said it conducted an independent assessment of the potential association between GLP-1 RAs and NAION, but found “available evidence was conflicting” and sought advice from the national advisor