AAO

AAO 2025: GLP-1 drugs show mixed impact on eye health in new studies

October 23, 2025

Two new studies presented at the 129th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO 2025) offer contrasting insights into the ocular effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists.

In a global safety analysis, researchers from institutions including the University of Ottawa and UCLA examined WHO drug safety data from >117,000 patients with diabetes. They found that semaglutide users were 68.6 times more likely to develop nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and eight times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy compared with those using empagliflozin, exenatide, insulin, or metformin. Tirzepatide showed no significant association with either condition.

Separately, Cleveland Clinic researchers analyzed data from >430,000 patients aged >50 years and found that those on GLP-1s had a significantly lower risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared with those using metformin, insulin, or SGLT2 inhibitors. No protective effect was seen for wet AMD.

Both studies call for further long-term research and emphasize the importance of baseline eye exams and shared decision-making for patients on GLP-1 therapy.

Source:

(2025, October 20). American Academy of Ophthalmology. Do GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic Cause or Prevent Vision Loss? [News release] https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/do-glp-1-drugs-like-ozempic-cause-prevent-vision-l