Did You Get Eye Floaters After Starting Ozempic or Zepbound?
- Jennifer Hardy
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
This one comes from the GLP-1 Newsroom mail. An Ozempic user expressed concerns about a new appearance of "eye floaters" in the few weeks since starting.
While most eye floaters are harmless, they can be annoying. In rare cases, a signal that something more serious is going on. Here’s what you should know about how GLP-1 medications might affect your eyes.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Floaters are those tiny, shadowy shapes that drift across your field of vision, like squiggly lines, dots, or webs. They’re typically caused by changes in the gel-like substance (the vitreous) inside the eye. Myodesopsias is the medical term for eye floaters.
Not sure if you’ve got floaters or just haven’t noticed them yet? Here’s a quick check:
Close your eyes (but not in total darkness) and turn your face toward a light source, like a sunny window or a lamp (don't look directly at the sun). You’re looking for faint, drifting shapes that seem to move as your eyes shift around.
They won’t be sharp or colorful, and you won’t be able to focus on them directly. They kind of float away when you try. That's why they are called "eye floaters." What you're seeing is actually the shadow of tiny clumps or strands in the vitreous cast onto your retina as light passes through.
If you notice them more clearly in bright conditions or against a white wall or blue sky, that’s also normal. Most floaters are harmless, but if they show up suddenly, multiply, or come with flashes of light, it’s time to call an eye doctor.
Why GLP-1s Might Be to Blame
If floaters show up after starting a GLP-1 medication, it might not be a coincidence. There are several potential reasons these drugs can mess with how your eyes feel and function.
Rapid Blood Sugar Changes
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) are incredibly effective at lowering blood sugar—sometimes too effective, too fast. If your blood sugar drops quickly, it can cause fluid shifts inside your eye. This affects the lens and vitreous gel, possibly making existing floaters more noticeable or causing new ones.
Dehydration
GLP-1s are famous for curbing appetite and slowing digestion. That also means people tend to eat and drink less, often unintentionally. Dehydration can affect the consistency of the vitreous and increase dry eye symptoms, which may make floaters seem more prominent.
Circulation Changes
GLP-1s may alter blood flow to delicate areas like the retina or optic nerve. This can shift pressure or fluid balance in the eye and may play a role in how floaters form or are perceived.
Rare but Real Complications
In rare cases, floaters could be a sign of something more serious, like a vitreous hemorrhage or retinal changes. These are less common but have been reported, especially in people with diabetes or pre-existing eye conditions.
What the Medication Labels Say
Each GLP-1 medication includes potential visual changes under its warning section:
Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide): The prescribing information warns about worsening diabetic retinopathy in patients with pre-existing conditions. Sudden blood sugar changes can stress already-damaged eye vessels.
Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide): Similar warnings apply, especially for patients with long-term diabetes. Sudden glycemic control can aggravate eye problems that have been quietly brewing.
Across the board, GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound include warnings about worsening diabetic retinopathy as the primary known eye-related risk. This is especially noted in patients who already have some degree of retinopathy when starting the medication.
In short: if your eyes weren’t 100% before you started the med, you’ll want to keep an eye (literally) on any changes.
Does Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Pose a Bigger Risk to Eyes?
Right now, semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) seems to carry more documented risk when it comes to eye issues, especially a rare condition called NAION (nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy), which can cause sudden vision loss.
Studies have shown that semaglutide users may have a significantly higher chance of developing NAION compared to those on other diabetes meds.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), on the other hand, hasn’t been linked as strongly to serious eye problems in the research we have so far. There are a few case reports, but nothing consistently showing a pattern.
That said, both drugs can worsen diabetic retinopathy in people who already have it, especially if blood sugar improves too quickly.
When to Call Your Eye Doctor
A few new floaters? Annoying, but usually harmless.
New floaters with light flashes, a dark curtain over your vision, or eye pain? That’s a different story. Call an eye doctor immediately—those could be signs of retinal detachment or bleeding.
If you already have diabetic eye disease or significant vision issues, talk to your provider before starting a GLP-1 med. And if you’re on one and your vision starts to change, don’t wait. Bring it up right away.
Don't Let Eye Floaters Become a Bigger Problem
Floaters might become more noticeable on GLP-1 meds for a mix of reasons—dehydration, fluid shifts, circulation changes, or just because you’re suddenly paying more attention. In most cases, they’re harmless. But vision is one area where you don’t mess around. Pay attention, and when in doubt, get checked out.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We are not doctors. All content is based on published research and manufacturer data to help you have more informed conversations with your healthcare provider. Always consult your doctor or specialist before making changes to your medication or care plan.
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