Semaglutide Linked to NAION Risk

A retrospective database study found a low absolute incidence but higher relative hazard of ischemic optic neuropathy following semaglutide initiation.

By
Andrea Surnit
May 11, 2026
3 min

Conexiant

1

Semaglutide use in diabetes patients is linked to a higher long-term risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
2

The study analyzed data from approximately 3.35 million diabetes patients, comparing 174,584 semaglutide users to matched non-GLP-1 RA users.
3

NAION risk was not significantly increased within the first year of semaglutide treatment but showed elevated risk at 2 and 4 years.
4

Subgroup analyses indicated higher NAION risk among patients aged 40-64, females, White patients, and those with hypertension.
5

The study's limitations include its retrospective design, potential outcome misclassification, and inability to establish causality.