Semaglutide, a popular diabetes and weight loss drug, has been found to double the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in older patients with diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Toronto conducted a population-based retrospective cohort analysis to determine whether older adults with diabetes have a greater risk of nAMD with the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide). Researchers analyzed health and demographic records of 139,002 adults aged 66 and older with diabetes from Ontario between 2020 and 2023. Researchers identified 46,334 who had used a GLP-1 receptor agonist for six months or longer while 92,668 had not used a GLP-1 receptor agonist at all. What the researchers found, was a more than double the risk of developing nAMD in the long-term GLP-1 receptor agonist group compared to those who had not used the drug.
These study findings highlight the need for patients on long-term semaglutide therapy to receive periodic eye exams. Additional research is needed to ascertain whether the retinal risks are a confirmed side effect of the drug.
