Semaglutide or Tirzepatide and Optic Nerve and Visual Pathway Disorders in Type 2 Diabetes
Main finding · NAIONResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 1.76 95% CI 1.01–3.07Authors' conclusion
In this study of patients with type 2 diabetes who had no prior eye disorders, patients prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide had an increased risk of NAION and other optic nerve disorders, although the overall risk was low. These findings highlight the need for close monitoring of these conditions.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with T2D and no prior diagnosis of eye disorders, US electronic health records, December 2017 to January 2023; mean (SD) age 56.5 (13.3) years, 52.15% womenmatched cohort
- Participants
- 159,398 patients
- Exposure
- Semaglutide or tirzepatide vs other antidiabetic medications
- Outcome
- First-time diagnoses of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and other optic nerve disorders
- Follow-up
- 2-year follow-up
Methodological detailstarget trial emulation, propensity-score matched, nationwide, population-based US electronic health records
- Target trial emulation
- Propensity-score matched
- Nationwide, population-based US electronic health records
Main finding
NAION
Hazard ratio
1.76
95% CI 1.01–3.07
Events by group
Semaglutide or tirzepatidevs Comparison
HR 1.76 (95% CI 1.01–3.07)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Semaglutide or tirzepatide | Comparison | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other optic nerve disorders · 2-year follow-up | 0.12% | 0.07% | 1.65 (1.18–2.31) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Other disorders of the optic nerve or visual pathways
- No association found
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Semaglutide or Tirzepatide and Optic Nerve and Visual Pathway Disorders in Type 2 Diabetes. JAMA Netw Open. Published 1 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →