GLP-1-based therapies are facing growing legal scrutiny in the United States following dozens of lawsuits alleging a possible association between their use and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare optic nerve disorder that can result in permanent vision loss. More than 90 lawsuits have reportedly been filed against a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company since 2025, with separate cases also brought in federal court. The plaintiffs allege that treatment with GLP-1 therapies, including semaglutide, was associated with the development of NAION and that patients were not adequately warned about the potential risk.

Scientific evidence on the association between GLP-1 receptor agonist use and NAION remains inconsistent. While some studies have reported an association, systematic reviews have produced mixed findings, with some showing an increased risk estimate…