Maryland man sues Novo Nordisk, alleging Ozempic caused blindness

A Maryland resident who was prescribed the GLP-1 medication Ozempic in 2023 says the drug caused sudden vision loss in both eyes, leaving him legally blind. Todd Engel, 63, was diagnosed with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) about four months after starting the medication and later lost sight in his second eye. Engel filed a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk, alleging the company failed to warn patients and physicians about the potential risk of NAION.

Engel told Fox News Digital that he first noticed vision loss on New Year’s Eve 2024, describing a complete blackout in his right eye. After medical evaluation at Johns Hopkins’ Wilmer Eye Institute, doctors described the condition as an “eye stroke.” Blood work and blood pressure were reported as normal, and Engel was cleared to return to work. Ten months later, his left eye also lost vision, prompting him to stop the medication.

In an interview, Engel said the loss of sight has ended his 40-year career as a heavy-equipment operator and truck driver and has forced him to rely on a white cane and family assistance for daily activities. His wife, Shelley Engel, said the condition has affected the entire family.

Attorney Jonathan Orent, co-lead counsel in nationwide GLP-1 litigation, said the lawsuit seeks to add a warning about vision-loss risk to the U.S. Ozempic label, similar to warnings used in Europe. "It’s about information," Orent told Fox News Digital.

Novo Nordisk’s head of U.S. media and stakeholder relations, Liz Skrbkova, said the company disputes a causal relationship between semaglutide and NAION, noting that clinical trial data show very few confirmed cases and no increased incidence. The company said it continues to monitor NAION as part of its drug-safety surveillance and is defending the lawsuits in court.