Back in January, we wrote about the vision-related side effects linked to popular weight-loss medications originally developed for type 2 diabetes. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly two million Americans are using, or have used, semaglutide—more commonly known as Ozempic and Wegovy—to lose weight.

One early concern was a rare condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), sometimes referred to as optic nerve damage, which was reported in a small number of patients taking these medications. Since then, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has published several comprehensive studies examining ocular risks associated with GLP-1 drugs. While the evidence is still preliminary, these studies suggest that the risk of optic nerve damage remains low and is mostly concentrated in individuals with preexisting optic nerve issues.

A new systematic review in JAMA Ophthalmology also emphasized another concern: worsening diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, a Canadian cohort study found that older adults using GLP-1 drugs had more than double the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) compared to non-users. Although this finding involves a different eye disease, it raises the possibility that semaglutide may influence retinal vascular health beyond the optic nerve.

The takeaway: if you are using medications to manage diabetes and support weight loss, it’s important to schedule a baseline comprehensive eye exam and maintain regular follow-up visits throughout your treatment. This is especially important if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, or a history of optic nerve problems.