In June of 2020, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science looked at the results of the Ozempic clinical trial and found of more than 2,100 adverse events with with the drug. One hundred forty dealt with vision changes, including diabetic retinopathy, macular complications, and blurred vision.
While Ozempic can be an effective treatment for diabetes, it is important to understand the potential side effects of the medication. One of the most common side effects of Ozempic is blurred vision.
This medicine may cause diabetic retinopathy. Check with your doctor if you have blurred vision or any other changes in vision.
The diabetes drug semaglutide is back in the spotlight, thanks to its FDA approval this summer as a weight loss aid. As many ophthalmologists know, the drug has been associated with early worsening of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
People sometimes have blurry vision for a few days or weeks when they're changing their diabetes care plan or medicines. High glucose can change fluid levels or cause swelling in the tissues of your eyes link that help you to focus, causing blurred vision.
Blurry or wavy vision in the center of your field of vision. Floaters. Noticing colors appear faded or washed out.
Side effects include changes in color perception, blurred vision, eye pain and photophobia. Fortunately, side effects rarely occur (although they are more common among patients that take higher doses) and resolve once the patient stops taking the drug.
In June of 2020, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science looked at the results of the Ozempic clinical trial and found of more than 2,100 adverse events with with the drug. One hundred forty dealt with vision changes, including diabetic retinopathy, macular complications, and blurred vision.
The data showed that the use of Ozempic is associated with higher rates of diabetic retinopathy and adverse ocular events compared with other glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as Tanzeum, Trulicity, and Victoza.
Semaglutide injection may increase the risk that you will develop tumors of the thyroid gland, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC; a type of thyroid cancer). Laboratory animals who were given semaglutide developed tumors, but it is not known if this medication increases the risk of tumors in humans.
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) can cause side effects that some people are unable to tolerate. Following dosing guidelines can help manage these side effects. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common semaglutide side effects.
Common Side Effects of Ozempic
“The most common side effects are gastrointestinal in nature: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.” While the majority of people who take Ozempic will most likely experience these symptoms at some point during their treatment, they should subside over time, continues Dr. McGowan.
Most people who develop side effects from taking Ozempic have only mild, short-term symptoms. Side effects of Ozempic should go away on their own after a few days or weeks. In rare cases, Ozempic can cause some side effects that may not go away. But these can be managed.
“Most people taking this medication DO NOT have negative side effects. In fact, over 80 percent of people taking Ozempic have mild or no side effects at all.
Ozempic stimulates the release of insulin and lowers blood sugar. When you abruptly stop using it, the amount of glucose in your body can spike, especially if you have diabetes. Some may end up in the ER due to sheer exhaustion from the blood sugar spikes and crashes.
This drug has a boxed warning about possible risk of thyroid cancer. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. In animals, Ozempic can increase the risk of thyroid tumors.
In later stages of the disease, blood vessels in the retina start to bleed into the vitreous (gel-like fluid that fills your eye). If this happens, you may see dark, floating spots or streaks that look like cobwebs. Sometimes, the spots clear up on their own — but it's important to get treatment right away.
Damage caused by diabetic retinopathy is typically permanent. This condition isn't fully reversible, but some treatments may help bring some of your vision back. While treatments aren't likely to return your vision, your eye doctor can help prevent your vision from worsening.
“Ozempic face” is a term for common side effects of the type 2 diabetes medication semaglutide (Ozempic). It can cause sagging and aging of facial skin. A doctor may recommend lifestyle modifications or facial fillers to treat these effects.
While blurred vision often gets worse gradually, there are conditions that may cause blurring to start up suddenly. These types of conditions can be medical emergencies and include: Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). A steep increase in blood pressure.
If you're taking any of these medications and you develop vision changes, double vision, or other eye symptoms — call an eye doctor right away. Early treatment can protect your vision. Your eye doctor will also help you safely taper or stop your medication.
Treatment for Sudden Blurry Vision
Some conditions can be treated with eye drops while others may need oral medications, medication injections into the eye, or laser treatment. Occasionally, surgery may be required if you're dealing with one of the following conditions: Diabetic retinopathy. Detached retina.
Treating diabetic eye problems
These include: Injectable medicines. Laser surgery to burn and seal blood vessels on the retina (to slow growth and leakage) Removal of scar tissue and cloudy fluid in the eye (vitrectomy)
If your blood sugar levels change quickly from low to normal, the shape of your eye's lens can be affected and your vision can be blurred. Your vision goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes.