From the Research
Semaglutide and Vision Loss
- Semaglutide has been associated with an increased risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition that can cause severe and irreversible visual loss 1.
- A study found that semaglutide exposure was associated with a higher incidence rate of NAION and independently predicted a higher risk of upcoming NAION, even when multiple other factors were taken into account 1.
- Another study suggested that semaglutide may increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) complications, particularly in patients with existing DR or those at risk for deterioration of existing DR 2.
- A review of the available data on semaglutide suggested that the effect of semaglutide on DR is still a matter of debate and an intriguing topic to investigate for suitable preventative and rehabilitative purposes 3.
- A real-world study based on the FAERS database and network pharmacology found that semaglutide was significantly associated with ocular adverse events, including blurred vision, visual impairment, and diabetic retinopathy 4.
- A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that semaglutide was not associated with increased DR risk compared with controls when all trials were combined, but subgroup analysis showed that semaglutide was associated with an increased risk of DR compared with placebo in certain patient populations, such as those aged ≥60 years or with diabetes duration ≥10 years 5.
Key Findings
- Semaglutide may increase the risk of NAION and DR complications.
- The risk of ocular adverse events associated with semaglutide may be higher in certain patient populations, such as older patients or those with long diabetes duration.
- Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and confirm the associations between semaglutide and ocular adverse events.