Should you be concerned about the risk of vision loss from GLP-1 drugs?
Should you be concerned about the risk of vision loss from GLP-1 drugs? The possibility of a rare form of vision loss associated with GLP drugs, especially semaglutide, has been making news, with several lawsuits filed in the US from patients claiming they were not properly warned. The condition, called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), can cause irreversible blindness. Concern heightened after a 2024 report from a health system in Boston revealed that patients with type 2 diabetes who were taking semaglutide were at higher risk than patients taking other diabetes medications. However, causation has not been established, and the question is being actively researched, with mixed results to date; a May 2026 statement from the American Academy of Ophthalmology concluded: “While many report a small possible increased risk of NAION in patients taking GLP-1 RAs such as semaglutide, some studies report no correlation, and the overall magnitude of the risk of NAION remains low.”
What You Should Know About NAION and GLP-1 Drugs
Until more definitive information becomes available, here’s a short summary of what you need to know if you are using a GLP:
- NAION is still rare. In the general population, there are between 2 and 10 new cases per 100,000 in people age 50 and over each year.
- Risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, high lipid levels, coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, and male gender.
- Because risk factors for NAION overlap to a high degree with people using GLP’s, it is difficult to determine how much the use of GLP’s affects that risk. While adverse event reporting requirements suggest that the incidence could be higher with GLP’s, large cohort studies and meta-analyses have found no statistically significant link.
- Patients with more advanced diabetes may be more likely to be prescribed a GLP-1, so it is possible that the apparent increased risk relates to a greater degree of severity of the underlying condition.
- It is not known whether different GLPs carry different risks.
- Every drug has a risk/benefit ratio. GLPs have enormous benefits for many people, but the decision to use them should be based on awareness of risks, however uncommon.
What To Do If You Are On a GLP And Concerned About the Risk Of Vision Loss
The possibility of NAION with GLPs should be taken seriously, and further research is being done to better understand the possible connection. It is a good idea to have regular eye exams if you are considering starting a GLP, especially if you have any of the risk factors listed above. Contact us to learn more about the risk of vision loss from GLP-1 drugs.
References:
Hathaway JT, Shah MP, Hathaway DB, et al. Risk of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Patients Prescribed Semaglutide. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(8):732–739. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.2296
https://www.aao.org/education/clinical-statement/glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-risk-of-
