Semaglutide and Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Risk Among Patients With Diabetes

Recent studies have suggested an association between nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with semaglutide usage. However, the limitations of those analyses warrant further investigation, given the frequency of use of these medications in people with and without diabetes.

To investigate the association between semaglutide use and the risk of NAION among patients with diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used data from the TriNetX database between October 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, to identify patients with diabetes with no history of NAION who were prescribed semaglutide. The semaglutide cohort was compared with a control group of randomly selected patients with diabetes who were prescribed non-glucagonlike peptide 1 (non-GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) antidiabetic medications. The data analysis for this study was performed on September 1, 2024. Exposures: Semaglutide history, identified using diagnostic codes. Main Outcomes and Measures: Cumulative incidence and (HR) hazard ratio of NAION.