Ischemic Optic Neuropathy News and Research

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Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is a condition in which there is significant impairment or loss of vision in the middle-aged or elderly population, especially Caucasians, due to ischemia of the optic nerve head. The incidence in the USA is between 2 and 10 per 100 000 with 6000 new cases being diagnosed each year.

Wegovy linked to higher risk of eye stroke and vision loss

Wegovy, a GLP-1 agonist for weight loss, may carry the highest risk of 'eye stroke' (ischemic optic neuropathy) and sudden sight loss of the semaglutide drugs, finds an analysis of unintended side effect reports published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

10 Mar 2026

How GLP-1 drugs affect the body beyond weight loss and glucose control

This review evaluates the safety profile of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and related incretin therapies used for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It highlights common gastrointestinal effects, rare but debated risks, and areas where further long-term safety data are still needed.

18 Feb 2026

Diabetes drugs linked to higher risk of rare optic nerve damage

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14 Aug 2025

Research shows GLP-1 drugs safeguard vision despite small retinopathy risk

A large study of over 185,000 adults with type 2 diabetes found that GLP-1 receptor agonist use was linked to a slight increase in new diabetic retinopathy cases but fewer severe eye complications, including a reduced risk of blindness. Patients with existing retinopathy on these drugs also needed fewer invasive eye treatments over two years.

13 Aug 2025

Semaglutide linked to higher risk of vision problems, FDA data analysis shows

Researchers from the University of Bern analyzed over 300,000 FDA reports and found semaglutide use was linked to a higher reporting rate of vision impairment. The findings call for further study into the ocular risks of this widely prescribed diabetes and weight loss drug.

8 Apr 2025

Vision loss risks in patients using popular GLP-1 medications raise concerns

A small percentage of patients taking the extraordinarily popular GLP-1 medications have experienced vision problems, but a direct causal link with the drugs has not been established. That is the conclusion of a retrospective study published online on Jan. 30 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

7 Feb 2025

Danish studies find increased risk of optic nerve damage with diabetes medicine

Two independent studies from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) show that patients with type 2 diabetes who are treated with the drug Ozempic have an increased risk of developing damage to the optic nerve of the eye, which can lead to severe and permanent loss of vision.

16 Dec 2024

Semaglutide linked to increased risk of severe eye condition NAION in new study

Research shows semaglutide users face a significantly higher risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) compared to users of other medications for diabetes and obesity.

8 Jul 2024

New book provides insights into latest treatments for partial blindness

In Restoring Low Vision, renowned neuroscientist Bernhard Sabel explains cutting-edge science in language that patients can easily understand and provides a comprehensive look at the latest treatments for partial blindness.

15 Dec 2016

USPTO grants key patent for Quark Pharmaceuticals' QPI-1007 ocular neuroprotectant

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted a key patent covering the treatment of patients suffering from non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy ("NAION") with the Company's ocular neuroprotectant QPI-1007.

30 Jul 2016

Risk of blindness from spinal-fusion surgery has declined, study shows

The risk of blindness caused by spinal fusion, one of the most common surgeries performed in the U.S., has dropped almost three-fold since the late 1990s, according to the largest study of the topic to date.

1 Jul 2016

Transorbital ACS can improve vision in patients with glaucoma, optic nerve damage

Vision loss due to glaucoma or optic nerve damage is generally considered irreversible. Now a new prospective, randomized, multi-center clinical trial demonstrates significant vision improvement in partially blind patients after 10 days of noninvasive, transorbital alternating current stimulation.

30 Jun 2016

Adding corticosteroid fluocortolone with standard therapy improves visual acuity in NAION patients

Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is one of the leading causes of sudden and irreversible loss of vision in older adults. In a prospective randomized trial of 60 patients with NAION, investigators have shown that the addition of the corticosteroid fluocortolone to standard therapy significantly improves both short- and long-term visual acuity, especially when given soon after the onset of symptoms. Their results are published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.

20 Nov 2013

Findings allay prostatectomy eye pressure concerns

A Japanese study shows that intraocular pressure increases during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy with the patient in a steep Trendelenburg position, but this is not associated with an increased risk for postoperative complications or changes in visual function.

18 Nov 2013

Study identifies six risk factors associated with blindness after spine surgery

A study published in the January 2012 issue of Anesthesiology identified six risk factors associated with blindness or partial blindness that can occur after major spine surgery: 1) male sex, 2) obesity, 3) use of a surgical frame that places the head lower than the heart, 4) length of the surgery, 5) amount of blood loss and 6) use of certain fluids that replace lost blood.

22 Dec 2011

Diopsys launches new Vision Testing System to detect optic nerve disease

Diopsys, Inc. has launched the new Diopsys NOVA-DN VEP Vision Testing System to help optometrists and ophthalmologists detect optic nerve disease, including glaucoma and other neuro-visual disorders.

29 Mar 2011

Quark initiates dosing NAION patients in QPI-1007 Phase I study for ocular neuroprotection

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced it has dosed the first patient with recent onset of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in its ongoing Phase I study of QPI-1007, the Company's proprietary synthetic siRNA drug candidate for ocular neuroprotection.

21 Oct 2010

Quark reports results from QPI-1007 siRNA drug study in rat ocular hypertension model of glaucoma

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced results from a second study of QPI-1007, a neuroprotective siRNA drug, in rat ocular hypertension model of glaucoma, conducted by Prof. Adriana Di Polo of the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Universite de Montreal.

29 Jun 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals' siRNA drug candidates featured in two presentations at Glaucoma & Retinopathies 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, today announced that two of its siRNA drug candidates were featured in the following two presentations at the Glaucoma & Retinopathies 2010 conference, which was held June 21-22, 2010 in London, UK.

25 Jun 2010

Quark Pharmaceuticals commences dosing in clinical study of QPI-1007 for NAION

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the discovery and development of RNAi-based therapeutics, announced today the dosing of the first patient in a Phase I study of the investigational neuroprotective agent, QPI-1007.

2 Mar 2010