Semaglutide is associated with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy among patients with type 2 diabetes and those with overweight or obesity, according to a US study in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Harvard University-led researchers examined the potential association between semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and the risk for non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in a retrospective matched cohort study.

Data were obtained for 16,827 patients, including 710 with type 2 diabetes (194 prescribed semaglutide; 516 prescribed non-GLP-1 receptor agonist [RA] antidiabetic medications) and 979 with overweight or obesity (361 prescribed semaglutide; 618 prescribed non-GLP-1 RA weight-loss medications).

The researchers observed 17 and six NAION events in patients prescribed semaglutide and non-GLP-1 RA medications, respectively.