Diabetic Man Blames Ozempic for Permanent Blindness

Edward Gillen, a 59-year-old diabetic, has filed a lawsuit against Ozempic's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, alleging the drug caused his permanent blindness. Gillen began taking Ozempic in 2024 to manage his blood sugar. Approximately a year later, in mid-May 2025, he noticed a speck in his eye, which rapidly progressed to complete vision loss in both eyes by June 1, 2025.

Doctors diagnosed Gillen with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition described as an 'eye stroke' that blocks blood flow to the optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness. Extensive testing suggested a link to his use of Ozempic. Gillen states he was not informed of the risk of permanent vision loss during discussions about the drug's side effects.

He is among thousands of patients suing Novo Nordisk in federal court, with lawsuits alleging the manufacturer failed to adequately warn about severe side effects such as gastroparesis, intestinal blockages, and NAION. Some evidence suggests semaglutide, Ozempic's active ingredient, may increase the risk of vision loss, though a direct causal link to NAION has not been scientifically proven.

Novo Nordisk has stated that studies show no causality between NAION and Ozempic and plans to vigorously defend itself against the lawsuits, which it deems without merit. Gillen, a former softball coach and state highway worker, is now adapting to life without sight and aims to raise awareness about potential Ozempic-related vision risks.