Check Semaglutide (Ozempic) Eye Warning in Pakistan: DRAP Sudden Vision Alert
DRAP Safety Alert 65 says semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) carries a very rare risk of NAION eye damage. See the symptom to act on and who to call.
Short answer: DRAP's Safety Alert No. 65 of 6 February 2026 says semaglutide, the medicine in Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, carries a "very rare" risk of an eye condition called NAION that can cause loss of vision. If your sight suddenly drops or worsens fast while using it, call your doctor without delay. Do not stop the medicine on your own.
Semaglutide is the injection and tablet many people now use for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. It is easy to forget that it also has a warning page. This one is about your eyes.
We read the alert on DRAP's own safety page on 12 October 2026. Below is what DRAP says, how rare the risk is, which symptoms to act on and what changes for Pakistani patients.
DRAP says semaglutide can very rarely cause the eye condition NAION
NAION stands for non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. In plain words, it is a loss of blood flow to the front of the optic nerve, which can cause sudden loss of vision. DRAP's alert says it may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people taking semaglutide.
The alert builds on a June 2025 conclusion by the European Medicines Agency's safety committee and a 27 June 2025 alert by the World Health Organization. Both asked for the risk to be added to the product information.
DRAP's expert committee discussed the matter on 31 December 2025. It decided that companies holding a Pakistani registration for semaglutide must add NAION to the Warnings and Precautions section of the label and list it as "very rare" under adverse reactions.
The risk is very rare, about one extra case per 10,000 person-years
DRAP's alert quotes large studies in adults with type 2 diabetes. They suggest roughly a two-fold higher risk of NAION compared with people not taking the medicine. That equals about one additional case per 10,000 person-years of treatment.
A person-year means one person treated for one year. So if 10,000 people each take the medicine for a year, about one extra case may appear. Clinical trial data also point to a slightly higher risk compared with placebo, the alert says.
| Question | What the DRAP alert says |
|---|---|
| How rare is it? | Very rare, up to 1 in 10,000 people |
| Which products? | Semaglutide medicines, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy |
| What are the symptoms? | Sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight |
| What should I do? | Contact your doctor without delay |
| What happens if it is confirmed? | Semaglutide should be stopped |
Sudden vision change is the symptom that needs a call to your doctor
DRAP tells patients to contact their doctor without delay if they have a sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight during treatment. The alert does not list any other symptom, and neither do we.
Slow, gradual blurring over years is a different matter and is usually a routine eye check. A change that comes within hours or days is the one the alert describes. Cover one eye at a time. If one eye has lost part of its field, go to an eye doctor the same day.
Doctors are asked to be careful with patients who already have an optic nerve disorder or risk factors for blocked blood vessels. If you have either, tell the prescriber. Our guide to free eye care in Pakistan lists where a government eye clinic can see you.
What to do if you use semaglutide today
Keep using it as prescribed unless your doctor tells you otherwise. The alert asks you to watch for one symptom and act fast on it. It does not withdraw the medicine.
- Check the label for the word semaglutide, or the brand names Ozempic, Rybelsus or Wegovy.
- Tell any eye doctor you see that you use semaglutide, and for how long.
- If sight suddenly drops or worsens quickly, call your doctor without delay and say the name of the medicine.
- Do not stop or change your dose before speaking to the doctor, unless told to.
- Keep the box or pen. The batch number helps if you report the problem.
People with diabetes also need regular eye screening for other reasons. Diabetes can damage the retina, so the NAION warning is not a reason to skip routine checks. Punjab's NCD clinics are described in free diabetes care in Punjab.
Check the product is genuine and report any reaction
High-demand weight loss and diabetes injections attract fake products worldwide. DRAP lists spurious and falsified medicines on its recall alerts page. You can confirm a product is registered with DRAP's registration check before you buy.
If you have a vision problem or any other reaction, report it. DRAP's Med Vigilance form and the VigiMobile app take reports from patients, and the steps are in how to report a medicine side effect. The National Pharmacovigilance Centre's number on the alert is 051 9255981 and its email is npc@dra.gov.pk.
Common questions
Does DRAP say semaglutide causes blindness?
No. It says there is a very rare risk of NAION, which can cause loss of vision. It does not use the word blindness.
Should I stop semaglutide because of this alert?
No. The alert says to contact your doctor if your sight suddenly worsens. If NAION is confirmed, the treatment should be stopped. Do not stop on your own before that.
Does the warning apply to the tablet as well as the injection?
The alert names Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy, which cover the injection and the tablet form. All are semaglutide medicines.
Is the risk higher for people with diabetes?
The studies DRAP quotes were in adults with type 2 diabetes. The alert also tells doctors to be vigilant in patients with optic nerve disorders or vascular risk factors.
Will the labels in Pakistan change?
DRAP's committee decided that registration holders must add the risk to the label. We could not confirm from DRAP's page when each company's updated label is in use.
Where can I report a problem?
Use DRAP's Med Vigilance e-reporting form or the VigiMobile app, or contact the National Pharmacovigilance Centre.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read DRAP Safety Alert No. 65 dated 6 February 2026 and DRAP's safety updates page on 12 October 2026. This is a summary of the alert and not medical advice for your case.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
