Ozempic Blindness Lawsuit

As of November 2026, there were 278 Ozempic blindness lawsuits pending in multidistrict litigation (MDL) No. 3163. The federal lawsuit concerns claims that Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications led to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a form of sudden vision loss. The cases are all being managed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the jurisdiction of Judge Karen S. Marston.

In December 2025, a federal panel established MDL-3163 and transferred the cases that met the criteria to the federal court in Philadelphia. An MDL consolidates multiple lawsuits with similar issues. In this instance, the litigation includes the drugs’ labeling, the safety evidence and a possible connection with NAION. By grouping them in an MDL, a single court can manage all these cases, although each person’s case remains separate.

The term “Ozempic blindness” refers to the sudden loss of vision experienced by some people who have taken Ozempic or other drugs that contain semaglutide. The condition most frequently mentioned in these cases is NAION. It causes sudden, painless vision loss — typically in one eye — that can be permanent. NAION happens when the optic nerve doesn’t get adequate blood flow.

In February 2026, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) — the UK’s counterpart to the FDA — warned of a likely association between semaglutide and NAION. The European Medicines Agency, the EU’s medical regulatory agency, warned in June 2025 that “treatment with semaglutide should be stopped if NAION occurs.” The FDA has not required a NAION warning in the U.S.

A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology revealed that people who were prescribed semaglutide had more diagnoses of NAION than similar patients who were prescribed certain non-GLP-1 diabetes or weight-management drugs. The study only established an association, not proof that semaglutide caused NAION in any particular person.

Researchers reviewed records from a special eye clinic and compared people taking semaglutide with those taking other medicines. They also considered health problems linked to NAION, like age, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and heart disease. They found more cases of NAION in people using semaglutide.

The main sign of NAION is sudden vision loss in one eye. This usually does not cause pain and often becomes noticeable when you wake up. Vision loss may also occur gradually over a couple of weeks.

Only an eye doctor can determine what caused your change in vision. NAION is just one possible reason, and some causes of sudden vision loss need quick treatment. If you notice new, sudden or worsening vision changes, get medical help right away.

If you have had sudden vision changes in one eye while taking Ozempic or a similar GLP-1 drug, you might be eligible for an Ozempic blindness lawsuit.

If you took Ozempic, Wegovy or other semaglutide GLP-1 drugs or Trulicity, a dulaglutide GLP-1, and then suddenly lost vision, you may qualify for an Ozempic Blindness Lawsuit. To be eligible, you need to have been diagnosed with NAION or sudden vision loss.

You might qualify if your vision problems started while you were taking semaglutide, or within six months of stopping it. It helps to have paperwork like doctor’s notes, pharmacy records showing when you took the drug and medical records from your eye doctor that confirm you have NAION.

Right now, the lawsuit is only for people who took Ozempic, Wegovy or some other semaglutide drug or Trulicity and have NAION-related vision loss. This set of lawsuits does not include cases involving other GLP-1 medicines, like Mounjaro. Whether you qualify depends on your health history, which medicine you took, your diagnosis and the timing of your vision loss.

There is a time limit to file an Ozempic blindness lawsuit, and it varies by state. Talk with an attorney right away to avoid missing your deadline.

Ellen Relkin is a partner and chair of the defective drug and device practice group at Weitz & Luxenberg. She also serves as a court-appointed co-lead plaintiffs’ counsel in the New Jersey semaglutide litigation over NAION injuries.

Q: If someone experiences vision changes but has no diagnosis, what should they do?
A: “We certainly will say you need to go to a doctor and see if you have this or something else.”

Q: Why do people in these lawsuits say they weren’t warned about a NAION risk?
A: “It’s still not in the labeling. That’s what’s terrible. Patients don’t know, and some doctors don’t know.”

Q: What happens next in these cases?
A: “We want to have what’s called a bellwether trial schedule in New Jersey where we can pick a handful or two handfuls of cases to get complete workups on them … and then try to get those cases tried.”

A bellwether trial is an early test case that can show how juries may respond. You don’t need to live in New Jersey to have a case reviewed.

As of September 2026, 216 lawsuits related to NAION were combined into a federal multidistrict litigation. Consolidation means one court handles shared pretrial tasks, like exchanging documents and deciding common issues, but each lawsuit stays separate. Consumer Notice regularly tracks litigation updates to bring you relevant news and information.

A settlement is an agreement that can end a lawsuit without going to court. In the Ozempic blindness cases, a settlement depends on each person’s story. Things like your medical diagnosis, how severe your vision loss is, your treatment history, and when you used the drug all matter.

But there is no promise of a settlement. Right now, the lawsuits are still in the early stages. The court has not decided if Ozempic or similar drugs caused vision loss, or if the drug maker is responsible. Just being part of the case does not necessarily mean you will get compensation.

Cases like this can end in different ways. Some people may get a settlement, some cases might go to court, and others could be dismissed. A lawyer can review your records, explain your options, and help you decide what to do next.

Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuits say that Ozempic and similar drugs can cause stomach paralysis and other serious problems. These lawsuits are different from the vision-loss cases. The drug label warns about severe stomach side effects and says Ozempic is not for people with serious gastroparesis.

These lawsuits alleging gastroparesis and other gastrointestinal injuries from GLP-1 medicines are coordinated separately in MDL No. 3094 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The court says the defendants deny the plaintiffs’ allegations.