Lawsuit Claims NAION Vision Loss Caused by Ozempic Side Effects

Man alleges manufacturer knew of potential for GLP-1 NAION vision loss risks as early as 2012, yet failed to warn consumers.

Novo Nordisk faces a lawsuit from an Ohio man who says the side effects of Ozempic caused severe vision loss and “radical” changes to his life and quality of living.

Robert J. Stottlemire filed the complaint (PDF) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on February 3, indicating he developed non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) due to his use of the popular diabetes drug. The lawsuit argues that Novo Nordisk failed in its duty to adequately warn patients or the medical community about the drug’s true risks, instead choosing to put their bottom lines ahead of patient safety and consent.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is one of a class of medications, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which have become popular in the last few years. Beginning as type 2 diabetes medications, they were found to have weight loss effects as well, leading to some being approved specifically for weight loss use. The class also includes drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Saxenda, Rybelsus, Trulicity and others.

However, with more widespread use, the drugs have been increasingly linked to additional side effects not warned of on the original labels, including a severe form of stomach paralysis known as gastroparesis, intestinal obstructions, hair loss and NAION, which can lead to permanently blurred vision, reduced vision or blindness.

Stottlemire’s claim is one of about 40 NAION vision loss lawsuits, each indicating plaintiffs suffered permanent vision problems due to the side effects of certain GLP-1 medications. Much of the NAION litigation is focused on Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda and Trulicity, and is in addition to nearly 3,200 GLP-1 stomach paralysis lawsuits filed throughout the federal court system.

According to the complaint, Stottlemire’s doctor prescribed Ozempic in February 2023 for treatment of his type 2 diabetes and for weight loss. He began taking .5mg injections once a week.

Less than a year later, Stottlemire began experiencing vision loss in his right eye by January 2024, and was referred to an ophthalmologist. However, by then the vision in his right eye had rapidly deteriorated until he could only see the motion of his hands, the lawsuit notes.

Stottlemire was diagnosed with NAION by a specialist, and also learned the vision loss was permanent.

“As a result of his use of Ozempic, Mr. Stottlemire developed non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and suffers severe physical and emotional injuries and radical changes to his lifestyle given his severe loss of sight.”

– Robert J. Stottlemire v. Novo Nordisk Inc. et al

The lawsuit points to numerous studies conducted over the last several years, which should have warned Novo Nordisk that Ozempic side effects could cause NAION vision loss. It notes that the first case of vision problems linked to GLP-1s was reported as far back as 2012, and that even the manufacturer’s own clinical trials indicated there was a “non-statistically significant increased risk of optic ischemic neuropathy.”

Stottlemire presents claims of failure to warn, design defect, negligent failure to warn, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and marketing, breach of warranty, and violation of Pennsylvania Unfair Trace Practices/Consumer Fraud Act. He seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

Ozempic NAION Vision Loss Lawsuits

The complaint will be consolidated with dozens of others in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as part of a NAION vision loss lawsuit MDL, or multidistrict litigation, being overseen by U.S. District Judge Karen Marston. She is also overseeing a separate MDL involving GLP-1 gastrointestinal injury lawsuits, which covers claims of gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, and intestinal obstructions attributed to the drugs.

While the two litigations will be handled separately, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) determined that there will be significant overlap given the products and manufacturers involved, thus assigning both sets of cases to Judge Marston.

Judge Marston is expected to direct the parties to prepare representative cases in both sets of litigation to serve as bellwether test trials. Those early trials would give each side insight into how juries may respond to evidence and testimony regarding GLP-1–related vision loss and gastrointestinal injury claims that are expected to be repeated throughout the claims.

If the parties do not reach GLP-1 settlement agreements after those bellwether trials, Judge Marston is likely to begin remanding cases in the MDLs back to their original courts for individual trial dates.

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