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Ozempic and Wegovy are among the most-prescribed drugs in America. Semaglutide — the active ingredient in both — has been celebrated for weight loss and blood sugar control. But a growing body of evidence, and a growing federal lawsuit, raise a question that many users have never been told to ask: is this drug increasing the risk of sudden, permanent vision loss?
Two separate federal lawsuits, now consolidated into multidistrict litigation in Pennsylvania, allege that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly failed to adequately warn patients about serious risks connected to their GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs — including a rare but devastating eye condition that can cause permanent blindness and a stomach disorder that can require feeding tubes and hospitalization.
What Is NAION?
NAION stands for Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. It is a condition in which blood flow to the optic nerve is suddenly interrupted, causing damage that can range from blurred vision to complete blindness in the affected eye. The onset can be rapid — patients often wake up with significantly reduced vision in one eye and discover it doesn’t improve.
Unlike some causes of vision loss, NAION damage is typically permanent. There is no reversal treatment. (National Eye Institute, “Facts About NAION.”)
A landmark study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in July 2024 found that users of semaglutide had a statistically significant elevated risk of developing NAION compared to non-users. The FDA responded by updating labeling for Ozempic and Wegovy to note reports of NAION. A 2026 study found that Wegovy — the higher-dose version of semaglutide — may carry a risk up to five times higher than Ozempic. (JAMA Ophthalmology, July 2024; hmf-law.com citing 2026 study.)
What Is Gastroparesis?
Some lawsuits also involve gastroparesis — a condition in which the stomach fails to empty properly because the muscles don’t work the way they should. GLP-1 drugs are designed to slow the movement of food through the stomach as part of how they work. In some patients, plaintiffs allege, this effect goes far beyond what is expected, causing severe and prolonged stomach paralysis, malnutrition, and hospitalization.
In the most serious cases, patients have required feeding tubes. Others have experienced repeated hospitalizations, severe nausea and vomiting, and lasting digestive harm. The lawsuits allege that drug makers knew or should have known about this risk and failed to adequately warn patients and doctors.
The Drugs Involved
This lawsuit involves the GLP-1 receptor agonist drug class, which includes:
- Ozempic (semaglutide, injection) — Novo Nordisk, approved for Type 2 diabetes
- Wegovy (semaglutide, injection) — Novo Nordisk, approved for weight loss
- Rybelsus (semaglutide, oral) — Novo Nordisk, approved for Type 2 diabetes
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide, injection) — Eli Lilly, approved for Type 2 diabetes
- Zepbound (tirzepatide, injection) — Eli Lilly, approved for weight loss
Where the Lawsuit Stands Right Now
Two separate multidistrict litigations (MDLs) have been consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania before Judge Karen Spencer Marston.
The general GLP-1 MDL covers gastroparesis and other serious injury claims and includes approximately 3,363 cases as of April 2026. The GLP-1 NAION vision loss MDL, focused on eye injury claims, includes approximately 73 cases as of April 2026. Leadership counsel has been appointed for the NAION MDL.
A critical hearing — called Science Day — is scheduled for June 2, 2026. At that hearing, attorneys on both sides will present scientific evidence to Judge Marston on the central question: does semaglutide increase the risk of NAION? The outcome of that proceeding will shape the direction of the entire vision loss litigation.
No global settlement has been reached in either MDL as of April 2026. Bellwether trial selection — the process of picking a small set of representative cases to try first — is expected later in 2026. (MDL, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Docket accessed April 2026.)
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Start Free Case Check →Who May Qualify
You may qualify if all of the following describe your situation:
- You took Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or another GLP-1 drug (semaglutide or tirzepatide) at any dose for any length of time.
- You experienced NAION — sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, often described as waking up with significantly blurred or reduced vision — while taking or after recently stopping the drug. Or: You developed severe gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) requiring hospitalization, a feeding tube, or significant medical treatment while taking or after recently taking the drug.
- Your condition required medical treatment or caused lasting harm.
You do not need to currently be taking the drug. Past use may still qualify.
Injuries Covered by These Lawsuits
- NAION (sudden vision loss, often permanent)
- Gastroparesis / stomach paralysis requiring hospitalization
- Aspiration pneumonia connected to stomach contents during anesthesia
- Intestinal obstruction
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and malnutrition requiring medical intervention
What Could This Mean for You?
If you qualify, you may be owed money for medical costs connected to your injury, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. What any individual case may be worth depends entirely on your diagnosis, the severity of treatment required, your specific history, and how your case resolves. Those facts are unique to every person.
We will not quote you a dollar figure. Anyone who does — before your case is evaluated — is guessing. What matters right now is whether you qualify and how soon you act.
Filing Deadline
Statutes of limitations vary by state and begin from when you knew or should have known your injury was connected to the medication. With a newly consolidated MDL and no bellwether trials yet selected, there is time to file — but not unlimited time. The sooner you are evaluated, the better positioned you are.
Once a deadline passes, you cannot file — even if you clearly would have qualified. The case check is free and takes two minutes. Don’t wait.
How the Process Works
Step 1 — Fill out the free form
No cost, no commitment. Takes about two minutes. A real person on the intake team reviews every submission.
Step 2 — A lawyer reviews your situation
If it looks like you may qualify, someone reaches out. They will go over which drug you took, when you took it, what injury you experienced, and whether you sought medical treatment.
Step 3 — If you qualify, attorneys work on contingency
You pay nothing out of pocket. If your case doesn’t recover money, you owe nothing.
Step 4 — Your case is filed
Your case is filed and pursued. The law firm handles the legal work. Most clients never have to travel or appear in a courtroom.
Common Questions
No. Both on-label and off-label uses qualify. The MDL includes claims from patients who used these drugs under any prescription.
Yes. NAION typically affects one eye at a time. Unilateral vision loss absolutely qualifies.
Yes. Your doctor’s assessment doesn’t determine whether you have a legal case. An independent review may reach a different conclusion.
No. Past use qualifies. Filing deadlines are based on when the injury occurred and when you connected it to the drug, not whether you are still taking it.
Yes. You can file a lawsuit while still taking the medication. Any decisions about continuing or stopping the drug should be discussed with your doctor.
Both companies face lawsuits. Cases in the federal MDL name Novo Nordisk (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and Eli Lilly (Mounjaro, Zepbound) as defendants, depending on which drug was involved.
Sources
- MDL (Eastern District of Pennsylvania), In re: Ozempic (Semaglutide) Products Liability Litigation and In re: GLP-1 RA Products Liability Litigation. Judge Karen Spencer Marston. Docket accessed April 2026.
- Hathaway, J.T. et al. “Risk of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Patients Prescribed Semaglutide.” JAMA Ophthalmology, 142(8):755–763, July 2024.
- National Eye Institute. “Facts About Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION).” nei.nih.gov. Accessed April 2026.
- FDA. “FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA Updates Labeling for Ozempic and Wegovy to Include Information on NAION.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed April 2026.
- Drugwatch. “Ozempic Lawsuit: April 2026 Blindness and Gastroparesis Claims.” drugwatch.com. Accessed April 2026.
- Lawsuit Information Center. “Ozempic Lawsuit | NAION | April 2026 Update.” lawsuit-information-center.com. Accessed April 2026.