Optic disc edema during semaglutide therapy: case report and literature review.

Yang T, Chen A, Zeng F, Liu J, Kamilijiang Y, Yuan B, Lu Y, Jin G

American journal of ophthalmology case reports7 Nov 2025

PMID41311659PMCIDPMC12648079DOI10.1016/j.ajoc.2025.102476PepBankPUB-41311659

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: CC BY-NC. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

9 results from studies that gave the peptide. 9 results from people.

01HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In two women with type 2 diabetes, optic disc edema developed during semaglutide therapy, detected at 28 weeks (case 1) and 24 weeks (case 2).
In plain wordsIn two women with type 2 diabetes, swelling of the optic disc appeared while they used semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseOptic disc edema on fundoscopy
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Time to detection
28 weeks
Case 1
Time to detection
24 weeks
Case 2
Source sentences
Summary
Following the initiation of semaglutide therapy for glycemic control, surveillance fundoscopic examinations performed at 28 weeks (Case 1) and 24 weeks (Case 2) post-treatment revealed the development of optic disc edema.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Optic disc edema with peripapillary hemorrhages and focal yellow-white exudates were detected.
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165901
02HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, optic disc edema came with peripapillary hemorrhages and yellow-white exudates.
In plain wordsIn two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, eye examination found bleeding and deposits near the optic disc.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreasePeripapillary hemorrhages and exudates
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Optic disc edema with peripapillary hemorrhages and focal yellow-white exudates were detected.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Severe bilateral optic disc edema accompanied by extensive peripapillary patchy hemorrhages and yellow-white exudates were detected.
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165902
03HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, OCT showed increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (right eye only in case 1, both eyes in case 2).
In plain wordsIn two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, scans showed a thicker nerve fiber layer in the retina.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseRetinal nerve fiber layer thickness on OCT
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Significant increased retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was detected by OCT in the right eye, while the RNFL thickness of the left eye was normal.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Significant bilateral RNFL thicking were detected by OCT.
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165903
04HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, best-corrected visual acuity was 0 logMAR in case 1 and 0.1 logMAR in case 2.
In plain wordsIn two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, visual sharpness was normal in one and slightly reduced in the other.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
MixedBest-corrected visual acuity
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
BCVA
0 logMAR
Case 1
BCVA
0.1 logMAR
Case 2
Source sentences
Summary
For case 1, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0 logMAR bilaterally.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Ophthalmic examination revealed the BCVA of both eyes were 0.1logMAR.
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165906
05HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, case 1 stayed asymptomatic and case 2 reported dim vision.
In plain wordsIn two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, one had no symptoms and one reported dim vision.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
MixedSymptoms of visual disturbance
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Case 1 remained entirely asymptomatic throughout the observation period.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
For case 2, dim vision was reported.
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165907
06HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, no significant optic nerve functional impairment was observed.
In plain wordsIn two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, tests found no major loss of optic nerve function.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeOptic nerve functional impairment
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
No significant optic nerve functional impairment was observed in either patient.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165908
07HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, pupillary reflexes were normal and color vision was unaffected in both cases.
In plain wordsIn two women with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, pupil reflexes and color vision were normal.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changePupillary reflexes and color vision
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Pupillary reflexes was normal and color vision was unaffected.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Pupillary reflexes was normal, and color vision was unaffected.
Report a problemFND-4131165909
08HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In one woman with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide (case 2), visual field testing showed bilateral enlargement of the physiological blind spot.
In plain wordsIn one woman with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, vision testing showed an enlarged blind spot in both eyes.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseVisual field blind spot enlargement (case 2)
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Bilateral physiological blind spot enlargement were detected by visual field testing.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165904
09HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome
In one woman with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide (case 1), visual fields were grossly normal in both eyes despite optic disc edema.
In plain wordsIn one woman with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide, visual fields were normal in both eyes.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeVisual fields (case 1)
Study
n = 1
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Visual fields were grossly normal in both eyes.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Patient 1 was a 62-year-old female with a 5-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while Patient 2 was a 51-year-old female with documented T2DM for 6 years.
Summary · context
Both patients were enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial titled 'Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Safety of two Semaglutide Injections in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus'.
Report a problemFND-4131165905

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Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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