Todd Engel had lived with type 2 diabetes for 25 years — and managed it without a hitch.
But that all changed after he saw glowing headlines and slick ads praising Ozempic as a ‘miracle drug’.
The 62-year-old, who had struggled with his weight for years, was intrigued by the blockbuster shot’s now-famous side effect: effortless fat loss.
At first, it seemed like the answer he’d been waiting for.
But just four months into taking the weekly injection, Engel’s world went dark — literally — when he suddenly lost vision in his right eye.
At the time, in late 2023, doctors had no clue the fat-loss jab could be linked to blindness — and his medical team dismissed it as a coincidence.
So Engel kept injecting himself for another six months. Then, he went blind in his left eye, too.
Doctors now say the damage is permanent and that Engel will never see again — the most he can perceive is faint pinpricks of light.
Todd Engel is pictured above with the grandchildren and one of his children while on a family outing
‘I will also never be able to see my wife smile again, or see my grandchildren grow up,’ Engel said.
Engel received a diagnosis of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, known as NAION, a rare condition that disrupts blood flow to the optic nerve and leads to permanent vision loss.
Now blind in both eyes, the 62-year-old has been forced to give up his job as a motor equipment operator.
At home, his family has installed special push-button controls for the microwave and television — devices he can no longer see, but can still hear.
Following this diagnosis, the Engels have taken legal action against Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, alleging that the medication was the catalyst for the condition that resulted in his vision loss.
He says he was never warned of the potential risk — and believes he would have reconsidered the drug had he known the danger.
Engel had lived with type 2 diabetes for more than 25 years, and had been taking medication to manage it.
His lawyers say he had no history of eye problems, and routinely passed the annual vision tests required for his job.
A spokeswoman for Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, insisted that NAION is not a known side effect of the drug.
But while NAION isn’t officially listed as a side effect, an emerging body of evidence is raising questions about a possible link.
The FDA’s drug monitoring system has recorded 141 cases of people experiencing vision loss or serious vision changes after using Ozempic.
However, the agency notes the reports haven’t been independently verified and may not reflect the true scope of the issue.
Experts propose a theory suggesting that Ozempic could induce a rapid decrease in blood sugar levels, potentially causing harm to the optic nerve, a vital link between the eye and the brain.
Once that link is broken, the brain can no longer interpret visual signals.
A spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology told the Daily Mail that it was ‘biologically plausible’ that Ozempic could be linked to blindness.
But they also said it was ‘premature’ to lay blame entirely on the drug, saying Engel’s diabetes could also be a factor.
NAION itself is rare with an estimated 2.3 to 10.3 cases per 100,000 people diagnosed every year, according to studies.
But among diabetics, the risk is far higher — up to 82 cases per 100,000, according to some studies.
Engel pictured above with his wife Shelley. He has lost vision in both his eyes after taking the weight loss and type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic
Engel first lost vision in one eye in December 2023. Doctors initially suspected his diabetes was to blame and began preparing him to live with sight in just one eye.
But when he also lost vision in the second eye months later, attention turned to his Ozempic prescription, especially as new studies online began to raise red flags.
Engel’s Attorney Ashley Hornstein, from the law firm Motley Rice, told the Daily Mail: ‘The tragic thing about this case is that he had no idea this was even a possibility with the drug.’
‘He stayed on Ozempic for another five or six months after the vision loss happened the first time.
‘If he hadn’t, it’s quite likely that he would still have vision in one eye today — that is all part of this horrific tragedy.’
His legal team said it’s unclear whether Engel even lost much weight while on the medication — the reason he started taking it in the first place.
Ozempic does not list NAION on its warning label of possible side effects.
But it does mention a different vision condition: diabetic retinopathy, where damage to the retina in the eye from changes in blood sugar levels leads to vision loss.
Unlike NAION, this type of vision loss develops over time — not overnight.
Engel’s devastating case has now emerged in a lawsuit filed in New Jersey’s Superior Court, alleging Ozempic was to blame for his total blindness.
And he’s not alone. New research is beginning to raise alarm bells about a possible connection between Ozempic and NAION.
Engel is pictured above with wife Shelley and one of his grandchildren. He said it was heartbreaking to know he wouldn’t be able to see the children grow up or his wife smile again
One study from July 2024 found that people with diabetes who took semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic — were four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION than diabetics who did not take the drug but were taking other medications for their condition.
It also found that people who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes and took Ozempic were seven times more likely to develop the condition compared to those who were not taking the drug.
A second paper published that December, echoed those findings — again pointing to a heightened risk of NAION among Ozempic users.
But both studies stressed the need for more research and noted that other factors may be at play.
In clinical trials, some participants on Ozempic did report vision loss.
The label currently states that three percent of patients in a two-year trial experienced complications from diabetic retinopathy — compared to 1.8 percent on a placebo.
More than one in eight adults in the US — or 32million people — have tried Ozempic or a similar weight loss drug at least once in their lifetime, estimates from KFF Health suggest.
Stock picture of someone injecting themselves with Ozempic
A spokeswoman for Novo Nordisk said: ‘NAION is a very rare eye disease, and it is not an adverse drug reaction for the marketed formulations of semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy) as per the approved labels.
‘After a thorough evaluation of studies from the University of Southern Denmark and Novo Nordisk’s internal safety assessment, Novo Nordisk is of the opinion that the benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains unchanged.’
She added: ‘Novo Nordisk, on its part, has conducted an analysis across randomized controlled clinical trials with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including a blinded ophthalmologist evaluation to confirm NAION diagnoses. These data do not suggest a causal relationship between GLP-1 RA use and NAION events.
‘Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk, and we take all reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously. This also relates to eye conditions, which are well-known comorbidities for people living with diabetes.’
It follows another lawsuit filed last month, which also suggested that Ozempic could cause patients to go blind.
