Rate and Risk of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy with Semaglutide Use for Diabetes and Weight Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Liu Z, Raveendran D, Fourlanos S, Chong EW

Ophthalmology29 Dec 2025Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID41475544DOI10.1016/j.ophtha.2025.12.022PepBankPUB-41475544

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

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: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In adults with diabetes in observational studies, semaglutide use was associated with higher nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy incidence (HR 1.85).
In plain wordsIn adults with diabetes, observational studies linked semaglutide use to a higher rate of a sudden vision-loss condition. This does not prove cause.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseNAION in observational studies in diabetes
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
No semaglutide
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Incidence
26.7 per 100 000 person-years
semaglutide
Incidence
18.9 per 100 000 person-years
no semaglutide
Hazard ratio
1.85 ratio
semaglutide vs none
Source sentences
Summary
Observational studies for diabetes showed a pooled NAION incidence of 26.7 per 100 000 person-years in those on semaglutide versus 18.9 per 100 000 person-years in those not on semaglutide (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.20-2.85).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating semaglutide versus placebo or standard therapy in adults.
Summary · context
Our search identified 8 RCTs (31 174 patients, including 3 RCTs not previously synthesized in meta-analyses) and 8 observational studies (1 611 278 patients) were included.
Report a problemFND-4147554401
02HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In randomized trials in adults with diabetes, semaglutide showed no significant evidence of increased ischemic optic neuropathy risk (RR 1.76).
In plain wordsIn randomized trials in adults with diabetes, semaglutide did not clearly raise the risk of a sudden vision-loss condition.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeIschemic optic neuropathy in RCTs in diabetes
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
No semaglutide
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Risk ratio
1.76 ratio
semaglutide vs none
Source sentences
Summary
Randomized controlled trials for diabetes demonstrated 5 ischemic optic neuropathy events in those on semaglutide versus one in those not, with no significant evidence of increased risk (RR 1.76, 95% CI 0.43-7.25).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating semaglutide versus placebo or standard therapy in adults.
Summary · context
Our search identified 8 RCTs (31 174 patients, including 3 RCTs not previously synthesized in meta-analyses) and 8 observational studies (1 611 278 patients) were included.
Report a problemFND-4147554402
03HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In observational studies of semaglutide for weight loss, there was no evidence of increased NAION hazard (HR 1.57).
In plain wordsIn observational studies of semaglutide for weight loss, there was no clear sign of a higher risk of a sudden vision-loss condition.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeNAION in observational studies for weight loss
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
No semaglutide
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Hazard ratio
1.57 ratio
semaglutide vs none
Source sentences
Summary
Observational studies of semaglutide for weight loss showed no evidence of increased NAION hazards (HR 1.57, 95% CI 0.69-3.59)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating semaglutide versus placebo or standard therapy in adults.
Summary · context
Our search identified 8 RCTs (31 174 patients, including 3 RCTs not previously synthesized in meta-analyses) and 8 observational studies (1 611 278 patients) were included.
Report a problemFND-4147554403
04HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In randomized trials of semaglutide for weight loss, there was no evidence of increased ischemic optic neuropathy risk (RR 2.18).
In plain wordsIn randomized trials of semaglutide for weight loss, there was no clear sign of a higher risk of a sudden vision-loss condition.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
No significant changeIschemic optic neuropathy in RCTs for weight loss
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
No semaglutide
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Adverse events · Eye
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
Risk ratio
2.18 ratio
semaglutide vs none
Source sentences
Summary
RCTs (4 ION events vs one) found no evidence of increased risk (RR 2.18, 95% CI 0.33-14.34)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating semaglutide versus placebo or standard therapy in adults.
Summary · context
Our search identified 8 RCTs (31 174 patients, including 3 RCTs not previously synthesized in meta-analyses) and 8 observational studies (1 611 278 patients) were included.
Report a problemFND-4147554404

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

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

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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Keywords

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