Could Wegovy Raise Optic Nerve Risk? - Takeaways - MDSpire

Could Wegovy Raise Optic Nerve Risk?

A pharmacovigilance analysis of FDA adverse event reports finds the strongest ischemic optic neuropathy reporting signal with high-dose semaglutide formulations, with higher adjusted odds reported in men.

  • By

  • Kerri Miller

  • March 11, 2026

  • 5 min

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  • 1

    Higher-dose semaglutide (Wegovy) is linked to a significantly increased risk of ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) compared to lower doses.

  • 2

    Men taking Wegovy have over three times the odds of reported ION compared to women, indicating a potential sex-specific risk.

  • 3

    The study analyzed over 31,000 semaglutide-related reports, confirming Wegovy's strong association with ION through Bayesian criteria.

  • 4

    No ION reports were found with oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), likely due to its low bioavailability compared to injectable forms.

  • 5

    The findings suggest a need for individualized GLP-1 therapy and further studies to explore the causal relationship with ION.

Original Source(s)

Could Wegovy Raise Optic Nerve Risk?

  • by Kerri Miller

  • March 11, 2026

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