GLP-1 receptor agonists, commonly prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, potentially double the risk of developing the most severe form of age-related macular degeneration. Digest
Age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults, affects nearly 200 million people worldwide. This progressive disease erodes central vision, which is critical for reading, driving, and other daily activities. A recent study found that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, or others, may double the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration, the most serious form of the disease.
Researchers analyzed health records from more than 1.1 million people in Ontario, Canada, who had diabetes and were 66 or older. They created a matched study group of about 139,000 people, comparing those who used GLP-1 receptor agonists for at least six months to similar patients who didn’t use the drugs. The researchers tracked new cases of neovascular age-related macular degeneration over three years.
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They found that people who used GLP-1 receptor agonists were more than twice as likely to develop neovascular age-related macular degeneration than those who didn’t use the drugs. About 0.2% (93) of the users developed the condition, compared to 0.1% (88) of non-users. Even after accounting for other risk factors, the difference remained consistent.
These findings suggest that while GLP-1 receptor agonists provide considerable health benefits, they may also pose an overlooked risk for serious vision problems. It’s noteworthy that diabetes is an independent risk factor for macular degeneration, and this study identified associations, not a cause-and-effect relationship. Learn more about GLP-1 drugs in Aliquot #128: The Expanding Role of Weight Loss Drugs