Dr Amir Khan 'going blind' alert for weight loss jab users with health condition

Dr Amir Khan 'going blind' alert for weight loss jab users with health condition People with the medical condition need to be aware of the risks when taking weight loss jabs People with a health condition could increase their risk of losing or damaging their eyesight by taking weight loss medications, TV doctor Dr Amir Khan claims. It comes as an estimated 1.6 million adults in the UK - roughly one in 30 - have used weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro. Dr Amir Khan claims that certain people need to be aware of a health risk if they have been diagnosed with a medical condition and are thinking about taking weight loss medication, including GLP-1s. Speaking on the No Appointment Necessary podcast that he hosts alongside Cherry Healey, the practising NHS GP said that people with diabetic eye disease could face an increased risk of causing serious damage to their eyes. He said: "If you've got diabetic eye disease, these [weight loss medications] can actually make diabetic eye disease worse and increase your risk of going blind. It's the sudden drop in blood sugar that affects the back of the eyes, "We're not quite sure of the mechanism itself, but it's that change in blood sugar combined with the weight loss affecting the small blood vessels in the back of the eyes. That's a very serious thing we have to tell people about now." GPs have specific guidance on when these medicines are being prescribed. This includes making patients aware of side effects and their increased risk, especially if people also have diabetes to manage. Aside from the risk of eye damage, Dr Khan claims that medics are also trained to monitor another area of concern. He said: "One thing [doctors] are really keeping an eye on is thyroid." He claims that animal studies have shown an increased risk of thyroid cancer, but stressed this has not been translated over to human studies. He said: "That doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen in humans, but we're keeping an eye on it. "I would caution anyone with a history of thyroid cancer or a family history of thyroid cancer to perhaps not take them. It's just not worth the risk." What is diabetic eye disease? Diabetic eye disease is a broad term for a group of conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. These, as the name implies, affect people with diabetes. It is caused by prolonged high blood sugar damaging the delicate blood vessels in the retina. It can lead to severe vision loss or blindness if left untreated. In its early stages, diabetic eye disease often has no symptoms, but as the disease progresses, you may notice: - Blurry or wavy vision - Vision that fluctuates from clear to blurry - Floaters (dark spots or strings in your field of vision) - Blank or dark spots in your vision - Difficulty seeing at night Because early stages are silent, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommends getting a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year. If the disease progresses, treatments like laser surgery, eye injections (anti-VEGF), or a vitrectomy may be used to reduce swelling or stop abnormal blood vessel growth.