Grandfather sues Ozempic maker after jab allegedly leaves him partially blind in one eye
A 70-year-old grandfather says his life was turned upside down after developing a rare eye condition while taking Ozempic, leaving him with just a third of his vision in one eye.
A grandfather is suing the makers of Ozempic after claiming the popular diabetes jab left him partially blind in one eye. Jay Vandegriff, 70, is among more than 200 people taking legal action against pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk over alleged cases of serious sight loss.
The financial software worker began taking the medication in August 2023 to help manage his type two diabetes and initially found it beneficial. But on Christmas Day 2024, everything changed when he noticed a strange smudge appearing in his left eye.
After undergoing a barrage of tests, Jay was diagnosed with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve which can result in sudden and irreversible vision loss. He claims his ophthalmologist advised him to stop taking Ozempic because the medication could be responsible.
Despite stopping the injections, his eyesight continued deteriorating for another six weeks. Jay has now been left with just 33 per cent vision in his affected eye, severely affecting his independence and favourite hobbies.
The keen fisherman can no longer enjoy fly-fishing because he struggles to thread the line, while skiing has become difficult and potentially dangerous, particularly in foggy or cloudy conditions. He also struggles to read screens, bumps into people in shops and has difficulty judging distances.
"I felt great on Christmas Day and then all of a sudden there was this smudge on my eye, like when you stare at the sun too long," he said. "It has been pretty frustrating, devastating really."
Jay, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, claims he would never have taken Ozempic had he known about the potential risk. His legal action comes as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that NAION must now be included on the labels of GLP-1 medications.
In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a warning in February that semaglutide medicines, including Ozempic and Wegovy, can be associated with the condition. The agency advises patients experiencing sudden changes in eyesight to seek urgent medical attention.
Jay is represented by attorney Danielle Gold of Weitz & Luxenberg, which has filed more than 100 cases, with further claims pending. Gold said the alleged injuries were life-altering and that the legal action centred on whether patients had been adequately warned about the risks.
However, Novo Nordisk strongly disputes the claims. A spokesperson said the lawsuits were "without merit", adding that a causal relationship between semaglutide and NAION had not been established.
Jay hopes sharing his experience will help raise awareness, adding: "I don't want anyone else to go through what I've gone through."