Semaglutide May Be Useful in Reducing Dry Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma

 A recent study published in Ophthalmology demonstrated GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with reduced hazard of nonexudative AMD. Notably, GLP-1 receptor agonists also significantly reduced the risk of exudative AMD and POAG compared to insulin after three years.

“The consistency of these findings across multiple comparisons suggests a potential benefit of GLP-1RAs in mitigating the risk of nonexudative AMD,” the researchers wrote in their paper. “Demonstrating a reduction in risk of POAG without a significant impact on the rate of ocular hypertension could indicate the protective effect is separate from lowering intraocular pressure.”

SEMAGLUTIDE and GLAUCOMA

This report in American Journal of Ophthalmology concluded:

This systematic meta-analysis found that GLP-1 RA use is associated with reduced glaucoma development in retrospective studies. Future, well-designed, long-term studies focusing on GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2 inhibitors are needed to validate these findings and evaluate their effects on glaucoma progression and vision loss. The overall interpretation should be cautious.

OZEMPIC AND NAION

 According to this report Ozempic may be associated with increased NAION within the first year of use.  Further studies need to be done to determine causality. 

ANTERIOR SEGMENT ATLAS

 This article in Review of Optometry has an excellent review with photographs of the most common anterior segment conditions.