- Robbie Williams has said he has developed blurred vision which he believes may be linked to his use of weight loss injections
- An observational study has suggested a higher rate of a rare eye condition among people prescribed semaglutide – but it did not prove cause and effect.
What Robbie Williams has said
Robbie Williams has spoken publicly about using injectable weight loss medicines for several years.
He has credited them with helping him lose around two stone and has described them as a medical necessity for his mental health, given his long running difficulties with body image and low mood.
More recently he has said that his eyesight has worsened.
He reports that:
- He struggles to pick out individual faces in the crowd at concerts
- Players at a football match appeared to him as vague shapes on a green pitch
- He has needed a stronger glasses prescription
He has suggested that the injections may be playing a part and has urged people to read up on possible risks before starting treatment.
His comments reflect genuine worries for many people using these medicines, particularly given recent headlines about potential eye side effects.
What the research shows so far
In 2024 a study followed around seventeen thousand people over six years and looked at rates of a serious but rare eye condition in those prescribed semaglutide compared with others.
Semaglutide is used under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
The researchers found that people who had been given semaglutide appeared to be several times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition, which can lead to loss of sight in one eye.
However, there are important caveats:
- The total number of people affected was small
- The study design could not prove that semaglutide directly caused the problem
- People taking semaglutide often have other health issues that may themselves affect eye health, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or raised cholesterol
In other words, this signal is concerning and needs more investigation, but it is not definitive proof that the medicine is to blame.
It is also worth noting that poorly controlled diabetes is a major cause of sight loss in its own right.
For many people with type 2 diabetes, medicines such as semaglutide are prescribed specifically because they help lower blood glucose, reduce weight and improve heart and kidney outcomes, which in turn should reduce complication risks over time.
- Growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs make type 2 diabetes remission possible
- GLP-1 receptor agonists can reduce mortality in people with type 2 diabetes
What this means if you use weight loss injections
If you are using a GLP 1 medicine like semaglutide for diabetes or weight management, the key points are:
- Do not ignore changes in your vision, such as blurring, dark patches, flashing lights or a sudden curtain over part of your sight
- Contact an optician, your GP, your diabetes team or NHS 111 urgently if you notice new visual symptoms, especially if they come on suddenly
- Do not stop prescribed injections without medical advice, as this can cause blood glucose to rise and may worsen your overall risk
Your clinician will weigh up the benefits and risks in your particular case, taking account of your blood glucose control, weight, cardiovascular risk and other health problems.
They may advise extra eye checks, a referral to an eye specialist or, in some situations, a switch to another treatment.
Looking after your eyes when you have diabetes
Whatever medicines you take, good eye care is a central part of diabetes management. To protect your vision:
- Attend all routine diabetic eye screening appointments so that early changes can be picked up before you notice symptoms
- Aim for blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol targets agreed with your healthcare team
- If you smoke, get support to stop, as smoking increases the risk of eye disease
- See an optician regularly for sight tests, even if you feel your vision is fine
Newer medicines like semaglutide have transformed treatment for many people with type 2 diabetes and for those with obesity, but they are not risk free.
As always in medicine, the aim is to balance potential harms against clear benefits.
If you are concerned by stories like Robbie Williams, raise them directly with your GP or diabetes specialist.
An honest conversation based on your own health history is far more useful than relying on headlines or social media, and will help you decide what is right for you.
