A popular diabetes and weight-loss drug called semaglutide—sold under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy—may come with an unexpected risk.
A new study from the University of Toronto has found that older adults with diabetes who use this drug could be more than twice as likely to develop a serious eye condition.
The condition is called neovascular age-related macular degeneration, or nAMD. It is a less common but more dangerous type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of vision loss among older adults in many Western countries.
Unlike the dry form of AMD, nAMD can cause sudden and permanent loss of central vision. This happens when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina and leak fluid or blood, damaging the macula—the part of the eye needed for sharp, clear vision.
Semaglutide is part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs are often used to treat type 2 diabetes because they help lower blood sugar levels and can even reduce the risk of heart disease. More recently, semaglutide has gained attention for helping people lose weight, and its popularity has grown quickly.
However, doctors and scientists didn’t originally focus on how the drug might affect the eyes. Earlier clinical trials like SUSTAIN 6 and PIONEER 6 had already raised some concern.
These trials found more eye problems in people taking semaglutide, including issues with the optic nerve. At the same time, some smaller lab studies suggested that the drug might actually help protect the eyes. This has made the question quite confusing—until now.
In this new study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers looked at the health records of over 139,000 people in Ontario, aged 66 and older, between 2020 and 2023. All participants had diabetes. About 46,000 of them had taken semaglutide or a similar drug for at least six months. The other 93,000 had never used these types of drugs.
When the researchers compared the two groups, they found something worrying. People who used semaglutide had more than double the risk of being diagnosed with nAMD. In fact, the risk was even higher for people who used the drug for longer. Those who had been taking it for more than 30 months had over three times the risk.
The study also found that older age and a history of strokes or blood vessel issues in the brain made the risk even greater.
This research raises new questions about the safety of semaglutide, especially when used long-term. The drug has been very helpful for managing diabetes and helping with weight loss, but this possible link to a dangerous eye condition shows why careful monitoring is important.
Experts say more studies are needed to understand what’s really happening. Is it the drug itself causing harm to the eye? Or could it be something related to diabetes or other health conditions? For now, the safest step is for doctors to monitor their patients’ vision closely if they are taking semaglutide. Regular eye checkups could catch early signs of damage before it’s too late.
As more people start using this popular medication, it’s important to look at the full picture—not just the benefits, but also the possible risks. Older adults and their doctors should work together to keep both their bodies and their eyes healthy.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about bananas and diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
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