Todd Engel has managed type 2 diabetes for 25 years without significant issues.

However, his situation changed dramatically after encountering promotional headlines and advertisements that heralded Ozempic as a ‘miracle drug.’

At the age of 62, and having faced weight management challenges, Engel became intrigued by the treatment’s notable side effect of significant weight loss.

Initially, Engel perceived this medication as the solution he had long sought. Unfortunately, just four months into administering the weekly injection, he experienced a sudden loss of vision in his right eye.

At that time, in late 2023, medical professionals had not established any connections between this weight-loss medication and vision impairment, attributing Engel’s condition to mere coincidence.

Consequently, Engel continued with the injections for another six months, ultimately leading to complete blindness in his left eye as well.

According to the Daily Mail, Medical experts have since diagnosed Engel with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare disorder that disrupts blood flow to the optic nerve and results in irreversible vision loss.

Blind in both eyes, Engel has had to relinquish his position as a motor equipment operator.

His family has adapted their home by installing special push-button controls for appliances such as the microwave and television, which he can no longer see but can still hear.

The Engel family has initiated a legal action against Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, alleging that the drug precipitated the condition that led to Engel’s vision loss.

Engel contends that he was not adequately informed about the potential risks associated with the medication, asserting that he would have reconsidered its use had he been aware of the dangers.

For more than 25 years, Engel had successfully managed his diabetes with medication and had no prior history of ocular issues, routinely passing the annual vision assessments mandated by his employer.

A representative from Novo Nordisk maintained that NAION is not recognized as a side effect of Ozempic.

However, although NAION is not officially documented as a side effect, a growing body of evidence is prompting inquiries regarding a possible correlation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug monitoring system has recorded 141 instances of individuals experiencing vision loss or significant visual changes following the use of Ozempic.

Nevertheless, the agency cautions that these reports have not undergone independent verification and may not accurately reflect the extent of the issue.