Most people associate Ozempic lawsuits with stomach problems. But a second, potentially more devastating wave of litigation is building — this time over sudden vision loss.
A Second MDL Is Born
On December 15, 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation created MDL 3163 to consolidate lawsuits alleging that GLP-1 drugs cause non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) — a rare condition that causes sudden, often irreversible blindness in one eye.
As of April 1, 2026, 73 cases are pending before Judge Karen Spencer Marston in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A critical Science Day hearing is scheduled for June 2, 2026, where courts will evaluate the scientific basis for causation.
The Research That Started It
A 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that semaglutide users had a statistically significant increased risk of developing NAION. The findings were alarming enough to trigger both FDA scrutiny and a cascade of litigation.
LEWS flagged this study when it was published, months before the first lawsuit was filed. Our PubMed monitoring agent identified it as a high-severity signal — a new injury type linked to a blockbuster drug with massive market exposure.
The Settlement Math
Legal analysts project settlement values that dwarf the gastroparesis claims:
| Injury | Projected Settlement Range |
|---|---|
| Bilateral vision loss (both eyes) | $1,000,000+ |
| Unilateral vision loss (one eye) | $500,000 - $1,000,000 |
| Severe gastroparesis | $200,000 - $500,000 |
| Temporary GI conditions | $50,000 - $150,000 |
Vision loss cases may be fewer in number, but each individual claim carries significantly higher value.
Why This Matters for Case Acquisition
NAION is underdiagnosed and often misattributed. Many patients who experienced sudden vision changes while on GLP-1 drugs may not realize there's a connection — and certainly don't know there's active litigation.
This creates a unique opportunity for firms willing to invest in targeted outreach. The plaintiff pool is likely much larger than the current 73 cases suggest.
What LEWS Is Tracking
Our system monitors GLP-1 vision-related signals across:
- FAERS reports mentioning visual disturbances, optic nerve disorders, and NAION
- PubMed studies on ophthalmologic adverse events in GLP-1 users
- Reddit consumer reports from patients describing sudden vision changes
- Court filings in both MDL 3094 (GI) and MDL 3163 (vision)
The June 2 Science Day will be pivotal. If the court finds sufficient scientific support for causation, expect case filings to accelerate rapidly.
LEWS identified the NAION-semaglutide connection months before the MDL was formed. Our early warning system helps plaintiff firms act on emerging litigation signals before they become crowded mass torts
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