Your Health Today
Health Today: Alcohol Use Declines as GLP-1 Drugs Face Rare Vision Risk
Americans are drinking less alcohol, while a rare potential side effect involving vision loss is drawing attention among people taking some GLP-1 medications.
A recent study found alcohol consumption declined between 2022 and 2024, although use remained above 2018 levels. Younger adults, including Generation Z and millennials, saw some of the largest declines, while adults ages 50 to 64 continued to report relatively high levels of alcohol use.
Doctors have long linked excessive alcohol consumption with increased risks of conditions including liver disease, certain cancers and heart disease.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss and diabetes are facing questions about a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION.
NAION can cause sudden vision loss by affecting the optic nerve.
Some patients taking GLP-1 medications have reported vision loss and filed lawsuits against drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging they were not adequately warned about the potential risk. Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy, has said it is vigorously defending the lawsuits and believes they are without merit. Eli Lilly has said safety is its top priority and that it continues to review available data.
The evidence regarding the potential connection has not been uniform. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has said available data did not show a consistent overall increase in risk, while additional research is continuing.
In Europe, the European Medicines Agency concluded in 2025 that NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. The agency estimated that it may affect up to one in 10,000 people taking semaglutide.
The EMA recommends that people taking semaglutide seek medical attention without delay if they experience sudden vision loss or rapidly worsening eyesight.
GLP-1 medications remain widely used for diabetes and weight management, and the potential risk needs to be considered alongside their documented benefits. Anyone taking or considering these medications should discuss individual risks and benefits with a health care provider.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: NBC Palm Springs
September 22, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
🛑A bike ride ended in tragedy Monday night in Palm Springs. A bicyclist died after being struck by a car around 8:30 PM on E. Palm Canyon Dr. The driver stayed at the scene and police say there’s no indication of foul play or impairment. ❓Saw the crash or have video from the area? Call Palm Springs police at (760) 327–1441.
Social Time: Jerry sings the end! 🎶🎵
CALIFORNIA IS AGING FAST... BUT WHERE WILL THE WORKFORCE LIVE? #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #agingpopulation #nbcpalmsprings
119 jobs on the line and DRD’s General Manager won’t answer questions … Drop a comment 👇: Would you vote YES or NO on giving a district more money if they refuse to answer transparency questions? #therogginreport #drd #coachellavalley #localnews #nbcpalmsprings
Help us choose the next NBC Palm Springs Fan of the Week! Vote for Video 1, 2, 3 or 4. The fan with the most votes will win a pair of tickets to next week’s Coachella Valley Firebirds game! Voting ends Thursday. Who’s your pick?
Spirit Halloween has revealed its top Halloween costume trends for 2026, and pop culture is driving the picks. Off Campus, Toy Story, K-pop Demon Hunters, superheroes, Greek gods and warriors — and plenty of Dolly Partons — are expected to be popular. What are you dressing up as this Halloween? #Halloween2026 #SpiritHalloween #HalloweenCostumes #nbcpalmsprings
After a car drove through a walkway, damaging Bill’s Pizza, the restaurant appears to have begun repairs and is still open the following day. The neighboring store, Gallivant was also damaged and is closed until Monday. The store has a gofundme page opened for them by a neighboring bookstore to support the cost of the damages. NBC Palm Springs is following the effects of this accident and what this means to the Palm Springs community. #billspizza #palmsprings #continuingcoverage #localnews #coachellavalley
Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are using bioengineered baker's yeast to break down plastic into ingredients for cookies.
Camden, Arkansas, is the unlikely hub of US missile manufacturing after years of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have drained the country's arsenal. But the Trump administration's push to scale up defense production is colliding with the limits of the small, rural town.
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will 1) Devin Session with the diving TD, 2) Mason Flores with the dot on the run, 3) Reese Johnson with the clutch FG, 4) Kaylaun Smith running over defenders, or 5) Joshua Perez with the TD throw. #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball