Lawsuit Links GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs to Vision Loss Concerns

WHO:

WSB-TV - Diane Wirth, a Georgia woman and former Grady Memorial Hospital nurse practitioner, is part of a lawsuit claiming a link between GLP-1 weight loss drugs and blindness.

WSB-TV - Jason Goldstein, attorney with Parker Waichman LLP, is on the steering committee for over 130 cases related to this issue.

USA Today - Bob Wright, a longtime health educator at Hilton Head Health, discusses the GLP-1 Support program.

USA Today - Holly Toelke, fitness manager at Hilton Head Health, provides insights on strength training for GLP-1 users.

USA Today - Elizabeth Huggins, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at Hilton Head Health, offers dietary advice for GLP-1 users.

USA Today - Anne Poirier, director of Behavioral Health at Hilton Head Health, discusses weight management strategies for GLP-1 users.

WHAT:

WSB-TV - Diane Wirth claims that after taking Wegovy, she lost her eyesight and was diagnosed as legally blind.

WSB-TV - The lawsuit involves claims of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) linked to GLP-1 medications.

WSB-TV - NAION is described as an eye stroke caused by restricted blood flow, which is irreversible.

USA Today - GLP-1 drug usage has nearly quadrupled since 2024, with approximately 11% of U.S. adults taking them for weight loss in 2026.

USA Today - The Hilton Head Health wellness resort offers a GLP-1 Support program that includes body composition assessments, biomarker testing, and nutrition workshops.

WHERE:

WSB-TV - The events are centered in Hartwell, Georgia, where Diane Wirth resides.

USA Today - The GLP-1 retreat takes place at Hilton Head Health Wellness Resort & Spa in South Carolina.

WHEN:

WSB-TV - Diane Wirth began taking Wegovy in February 2025.

USA Today - The GLP-1 Support program at Hilton Head Health is held during select weeks of the year.

WHY:

WSB-TV - Diane Wirth states that she was not informed about the risk of blindness associated with GLP-1 drugs, which were not listed as side effects.

WSB-TV - The lawsuit claims that the drug manufacturers were aware of the risks from a 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology but did not include it as a side effect.

HOW:

WSB-TV - The lawsuit is part of a multidistrict case being heard by a judge in Philadelphia.

USA Today - The GLP-1 Support program includes workshops on nutrition, strength training, and cooking demonstrations to support users of GLP-1 medications.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 10:45 UTC)

Diane Wirth, a Georgia woman and former nurse practitioner, is suing over claims that the GLP-1 weight loss drug Wegovy caused her to lose her eyesight, leading to a diagnosis of legal blindness. The lawsuit alleges a link between the medication and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, an irreversible condition described as an eye stroke due to restricted blood flow, and it is part of a larger case being heard in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Hilton Head Health wellness resort in South Carolina offers a GLP-1 Support program that includes nutrition workshops and strength training insights for users of these medications.