JAMA Ophthalmol

Semaglutide linked to sight-threatening eye condition

July 8, 2024

Results suggest an association between semaglutide and NAION. However, since this was an observational study, additional research is required to determine causality.

• Among 16,827 patients, 710 had T2DM (194 were prescribed semaglutide; 516 were prescribed non-GLP-1 RA antidiabetic meds; median age, 59 years; 52% female) and 979 were overweight or obese (361 were prescribed semaglutide; 618 were prescribed non-GLP-1 RA weight-loss meds; median age, 47 years; 72% female).
• In patients with T2DM, 17 NAION events were observed in those prescribed semaglutide vs. 6 in the non-GLP-1 RA antidiabetes medication cohort. Over 36 months, cumulative incidence of NAION for the semaglutide and non-GLP-1 RA cohorts was 8.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5%-13.1%) and 1.8% (95% CI, 0%-3.5%), respectively.
• In patients who were overweight or obese, 20 NAION events occurred in the semaglutide cohort vs. 3 in the non-GLP-1 RA medication cohort. Over 36 months, cumulative incidence of NAION for the semaglutide vs. non-GLP-1 RA cohorts was 6.7% (95% CI, 3.6%-9.7%) and 0.8% (95% CI, 0%-1.8%), respectively.

Source:

Hathaway JT, et al. (2024, July 3). JAMA Ophthalmol. Risk of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Patients Prescribed Semaglutide. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38958939/