TV doctor Dr Amir Khan has warned that people with diabetic eye disease who take weight loss medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro could face an increased risk of serious eye damage, including blindness. An estimated 1.6 million adults in the UK — roughly one in 30 — have used these drugs.
Risk to people with diabetic eye disease
Speaking on the No Appointment Necessary podcast, the practising NHS GP said that the sudden drop in blood sugar caused by the medications can affect the back of the eyes. He stated: "If you've got diabetic eye disease, these [weight loss medications] can actually make diabetic eye disease worse and increase your risk of going blind. It's the sudden drop in blood sugar that affects the back of the eyes."
He added: "We're not quite sure of the mechanism itself, but it's that change in blood sugar combined with the weight loss affecting the small blood vessels in the back of the eyes. That's a very serious thing we have to tell people about now."
Thyroid cancer concerns
Dr Khan also highlighted another area of concern: the thyroid. He said animal studies have shown an increased risk of thyroid cancer, though this has not been confirmed in human studies. He cautioned: "That doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen in humans, but we're keeping an eye on it. I would caution anyone with a history of thyroid cancer or a family history of thyroid cancer to perhaps not take them. It's just not worth the risk."
What is diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic eye disease is a broad term for conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma that affect people with diabetes. Prolonged high blood sugar damages the delicate blood vessels in the retina, which can lead to severe vision loss or blindness if untreated. Early stages often have no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, symptoms may include blurry or wavy vision, fluctuating vision, floaters, blank or dark spots, and difficulty seeing at night.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year. Treatments for advanced disease include laser surgery, eye injections (anti-VEGF), or vitrectomy.
