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Maryland Man Says Ozempic Caused Blindness, Files Lawsuit

A diabetic grandfather lost vision in both eyes after starting Ozempic and is now suing the drugmaker over warning labels.

By Dr. Axe Editorial Team · October 16, 2026 · 1 source · Watch

A Maryland man says Ozempic caused the sudden vision loss that left him legally blind, according to a report published October 15, 2026 by Fox News.

Todd Engel, a 63-year-old Maryland man, told Fox News in a report published October 15, 2026 that Ozempic caused the total loss of vision that has left him legally blind. Engel was prescribed Ozempic in 2023 to manage type 2 diabetes. About four months later he was diagnosed with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, also called NAION or an eye stroke, after sudden vision loss in his right eye on New Year's Eve. Blood work and blood pressure came back normal, and he was cleared to return to work. Engel's family says neither he nor his doctors were aware at the time of a possible link between semaglutide and NAION, so he kept taking the drug. About 10 months after the first episode, he lost vision in his left eye too, leaving him with no vision in either eye. He stopped taking Ozempic immediately afterward and has since filed a lawsuit against manufacturer Novo Nordisk alleging the company failed to adequately warn patients and doctors; he is one of hundreds of patients pursuing similar litigation over Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.

NAION occurs when reduced blood flow damages the optic nerve, causing sudden, often permanent vision loss with no medication or surgery to reverse it. Engel's attorney says the legal effort centers on adding a U.S. warning label similar to one already used in Europe. Novo Nordisk disputes that semaglutide causes NAION, pointing to its own placebo-controlled clinical trials, which found very few confirmed NAION cases and no increased rate among patients taking the drug.

I didn't go blind — I had my vision taken from me, which was catastrophic to me and to my family.

Todd EngelFox News, October 15, 2026

This is one patient's account and legal claim, not a controlled study, and a causal relationship between GLP-1 drugs and NAION has not been definitively established by either side. His wife says medical testing found no other common factor beyond Ozempic; the broader litigation remains unresolved.

Dr. Axe’s Take

Reported NAION cases with GLP-1 drugs deserve real attention, not dismissal. I'm not against this drug class, but I always pair these medicines with a whole-food diet, high protein, fiber and resistance training, since muscle loss and nutrient gaps are real risks with rapid weight loss. Many people do well on a much lower dose, often 10 to 20% of the labeled dose, worked out with the prescribing doctor instead of adjusting on their own. If you're on Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound, report any sudden vision change immediately and ask your doctor directly about NAION risk.

— Dr. Axe

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Story summary

Who: One patient, Todd Engel, age 63, Maryland, prescribed Ozempic for type 2 diabetes in 2023
Design: Patient account reported by Fox News; ongoing product liability lawsuit against Novo Nordisk
Primary result: Vision loss diagnosed as NAION in right eye about 4 months after starting Ozempic; left eye vision lost about 10 months later, leaving total blindness
Secondary: Novo Nordisk cites its own placebo-controlled trials showing very few confirmed NAION cases and no increased incidence among semaglutide users
Date: Oct 15, 2026