Ozempic Vision Loss Lawsuit, Claims, MDL Status & Eligibility

Quick Facts

• Lawsuit type: Pharmaceutical product liability / mass tort MDL
• Primary defendant: Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)
• Vision loss MDL: In re: GLP-1 RAs Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3163, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• Status: Active litigation — early stage; no settlement announced
• What is alleged: Ozempic allegedly caused NAION, a form of sudden, often irreversible vision loss
• Who may be affected: People who took Ozempic or other GLP-1 drugs and were subsequently diagnosed with NAION
• Settlement amount: No settlement has been announced as of February 2026
• Claim deadline: No settlement claim deadline exists; individual lawsuit deadlines vary by state
• Official court information: U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Judge Karen S. Marston presiding

Thousands of people who took Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonist medications have filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, alleging the drugs caused a serious eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) — a form of sudden, often permanent vision loss. As of February 2026, there is no global settlement in the NAION lawsuits. These cases have not gone to trial. The vision loss lawsuits are now centralized in a dedicated federal multidistrict litigation and a New Jersey state court proceeding, both in early stages. Consumers who allegedly experienced vision loss after taking Ozempic should be aware that no settlement claim period is currently open.

What Are the Allegations?

Plaintiffs allege that Ozempic — and other medications containing semaglutide — caused them to develop NAION, a condition in which blood flow to the optic nerve is disrupted or cut off. NAION is an incurable eye condition that causes vision loss. It typically affects only one eye, though around 15% of people with NAION will eventually develop the condition in the other eye. It may cause vision loss severe enough to classify someone as legally blind.

NAION is a rare eye condition that causes sudden, often irreversible blindness or vision loss in one eye. Plaintiffs allege the vision loss occurred without warning and that many cases were diagnosed within months of starting the medication. Some plaintiffs allege total blindness in the affected eye with no path to recovery.

A central piece of evidence in these cases is a July 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. The study reported that patients who took semaglutide-containing drugs had an increased risk of developing NAION. A 2025 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found people taking Ozempic were about 1.8 times as likely to experience vision loss from NAION than those prescribed other diabetes medications.

In June 2025, the World Health Organization warned that semaglutide drugs — such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus — may rarely cause NAION. The WHO advises patients to seek medical care immediately if they notice rapid changes in their eyesight.

What Is the Lawsuit About?

The core legal theory in the Ozempic vision loss lawsuits is that Novo Nordisk knew — or should have known — that its medications posed a risk of NAION, but failed to warn patients and physicians about that risk.

Plaintiffs allege that Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn consumers and healthcare providers about the potential risk of NAION associated with Ozempic, and that the company knew or should have known about the risk but failed to update the drug’s labeling. The labeling for Ozempic has been updated multiple times since its approval in 2017, but none of those updates included warnings about the risk of NAION.

While the FDA has not yet required a warning for NAION on Ozempic and other semaglutide labels, the European Medicines Agency required updated warning labels for semaglutide drugs to include NAION risk in August 2024. Plaintiffs point to this international regulatory action as evidence that the risk was recognized abroad before U.S. label changes were made.

Who Is Affected?

The lawsuits cover people who took Ozempic or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medications containing semaglutide and were subsequently diagnosed with NAION. Lawsuits also cover other drugs in the GLP-1 class, and lawyers are investigating other drugs in this class. Related drugs include Wegovy and Rybelsus (both manufactured by Novo Nordisk) and other GLP-1 medications.

Courts are now requiring a formal diagnosis of NAION by an ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist as a requirement for claims in MDL 3163. Clinical documentation must show sudden, painless vision loss, optic disc swelling (edema), and specific visual field defects. Records must also rule out other causes such as giant cell arteritis or optic neuritis.

People who took Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes or weight management and experienced sudden, painless vision loss in one or both eyes may fall within the class of individuals filing lawsuits. Those with partial vision loss may also qualify, not only those who experienced total blindness.

Legal Claims

The vision loss lawsuits against Novo Nordisk allege several legal theories. In plain terms:

Failure to warn means plaintiffs claim Novo Nordisk had a duty to disclose the risk of NAION to patients and prescribers and failed to do so, even as research began identifying the connection.

Strict product liability means plaintiffs argue Ozempic was an unreasonably dangerous product because it lacked adequate safety warnings, regardless of whether Novo Nordisk was negligent.

Negligence means plaintiffs claim Novo Nordisk did not use reasonable care in monitoring its product for known risks and updating its label accordingly.

Breach of warranty means plaintiffs allege Novo Nordisk implicitly or expressly represented Ozempic as safe for its intended uses, and that this representation was inaccurate.

The Stottlemire v. Novo Nordisk Inc. class action, filed February 3, 2026 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, brings claims for strict liability, negligence, breach of warranty, and violations of consumer protection laws, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

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Lawsuit Status

The Ozempic vision loss litigation is active and in early stages. No trial has been held, and no settlement has been announced.

On December 15, 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation approved a request to consolidate lawsuits filed by people who experienced vision loss after taking Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs into a dedicated MDL. The new litigation is called MDL No. 3163 — In Re: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Products Liability Litigation.

The same judge overseeing the larger gastroparesis MDL — Judge Karen S. Marston — is also presiding over MDL 3163 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. While the two litigation tracks remain separate, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation noted significant overlap between the cases, making it efficient for Judge Marston to handle both.

Separately, the New Jersey Supreme Court consolidated Ozempic NAION vision loss lawsuits filed in New Jersey state courts into a multicounty litigation (MCL) before Bergen County Superior Court Judge Gregg A. Padovano. These state court proceedings run parallel to — but separately from — the federal MDL.

At the February 10, 2026, status conference, the court and counsel addressed key administrative and case management issues in the MDL, including case counts, newly filed short-form complaints, and status of plaintiff fact sheet submissions.

Settlement Details

No settlement exists as of February 28, 2026. There is no open claims period, no settlement administrator, and no settlement website for the Ozempic vision loss lawsuits.

As of February 2026, there is no global settlement in either the gastrointestinal-related MDL or the NAION lawsuits. None of the cases have gone to trial.

In mass tort litigation like this, individual settlements sometimes occur on a case-by-case basis before a global settlement is reached. However, no such settlements have been publicly disclosed in the Ozempic vision loss proceedings. Consumers should be cautious about any websites claiming a settlement is available or soliciting claim forms, as no official settlement administrator has been designated for these cases.

What This Means for Consumers

This litigation is significant for people who took Ozempic — or related medications — and experienced sudden, unexplained vision changes. The lawsuits raise questions about whether patients received complete information about potential risks before starting the medication.

Consumers who believe they may have experienced NAION after taking Ozempic or another GLP-1 drug should be aware that no settlement claim process currently exists. Anyone considering joining this litigation would need to consult a licensed attorney to evaluate whether their individual case may qualify.

Because NAION is a permanent condition in most cases, affected individuals should document their medical history carefully, including their history of medication use and dates of diagnosis. This documentation may be relevant if litigation continues to develop and individual lawsuits are filed.

This article does not encourage or discourage any medical decision. Anyone with concerns about vision changes should consult their healthcare provider directly.

Key Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

What vision loss is alleged in the Ozempic lawsuits? Plaintiffs allege Ozempic and other semaglutide drugs caused NAION — non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy — a condition in which blood flow to the optic nerve is disrupted. This causes sudden, painless vision loss, typically in one eye, that is irreversible in most cases and has no known cure.

Who is affected by these lawsuits? People who took Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medications and were subsequently diagnosed with NAION by an ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist may potentially qualify to file individual lawsuits. Both Type 2 diabetes patients and those who used the drugs for weight management are included.

Has a settlement been approved? No. As of February 28, 2026, no settlement has been announced or approved in either the federal NAION MDL or the New Jersey state court MCL. No claims period is open. Anyone claiming a settlement currently exists is not accurately representing the status of this litigation.

Am I eligible to join the litigation? Eligibility depends on your specific medical history — including the medication you took, the duration of use, the timing of your NAION diagnosis, and your jurisdiction. Courts now require a formal NAION diagnosis from an ophthalmologist or neuro-ophthalmologist. Consult a licensed attorney to evaluate your individual situation.

Is a claim form required? There is no settlement claim form available. Anyone who believes they were injured and wants to pursue legal action would need to file a lawsuit, typically through an attorney. The federal MDL allows plaintiffs to file short-form complaints to join the consolidated proceedings.

What is the claim deadline? No settlement claim deadline exists. State-specific statutes of limitations apply to individual product liability lawsuits. These deadlines vary by state — generally two to three years from the date of injury or the date of discovering the connection to the medication. Consult an attorney for guidance specific to your state.

Where is the official settlement website? There is no official settlement website for the Ozempic vision loss lawsuits. The official court docket for MDL 3163 is maintained by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The official court docket for the New Jersey NAION MCL is maintained by the Bergen County Superior Court.

What benefits might be available if the litigation resolves? Because no settlement exists, no benefits have been defined. In mass tort litigation generally, plaintiffs who succeed may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. Punitive damages may also be sought in cases involving alleged corporate misconduct. Outcomes vary significantly by case and are not guaranteed.

Last Updated: February 28, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or medical advice. Settlement eligibility and litigation outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. This article does not recommend or discourage use of any medication. For questions regarding this lawsuit or settlement, consult official settlement resources or a qualified attorney. For medical concerns about Ozempic or vision changes, consult your healthcare provider. Information in this article is current as of the last update date and may change as the case proceeds or settlement is administered.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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