FDA WARNS ABOUT RISK OF RARE BUT SERIOUS EYE CONDITION ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1 (GLP-1) RECEPTOR AGONISTS

November 11, 2026

On Oct. 9, 2026, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required safety-labeling changes for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drugs because of a risk of a rare but serious eye condition.[i] The condition, known as nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic disc, which is the front part of the optic nerve.

The condition can result in acute, painless, decreased vision in one eye, including permanent vision loss. Symptoms can include sudden, painless vision loss in one eye that a person may notice upon waking, blurred or missing portions of vision, color distortion, and blurry or hazy vision.

If a patient taking a GLP-1 drug has a sudden vision change, the FDA advises them to immediately contact their clinician and discuss whether to continue or stop the medication.

The FDA advised clinicians to promptly refer patients with suspected nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy to an ophthalmologist for evaluation and to advise patients with the condition to stop taking the GLP-1 drug unless “the benefits of treatment clearly outweigh the risk.”

The FDA Drug Safety Communication discusses a meta-analysis of clinical trials of GLP-1 drugs. Overall, the results showed an incidence rate of 6.4 events of the rare eye condition per 100,000 patient-years in patients treated with GLP-1 drugs, compared with 3.8 events per 100,000 patient-years in patients treated with a comparator.

The FDA also reviewed published observational studies, finding that “[m]ethodologically rigorous studies consistently reported an increased risk of [nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy] in patients with type 2 diabetes” taking GLP-1 drugs, as compared with those taking drugs in two other classes of diabetes medications.

FDA-approved drugs subject to the safety-labeling changes include dulaglutide (TRULICITY), liraglutide (SAXENDA, VICTOZA and generics), orforglipron (FOUNDAYO), semaglutide (OZEMPIC, RYBELSUS, WEGOVY) and tirzepatide (MOUNJARO, ZEPBOUND). Cases of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy have been reported with all GLP-1 drugs that are currently marketed in the United States, the FDA said.

GLP-1 drugs are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes, to reduce body weight and to maintain long-term weight reduction; several GLP-1 drugs have additional approved uses related to  reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events, worsening kidney disease and kidney failure, treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, and treatment of adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate to advanced liver scarring.

Although the underlying cause of the rare eye condition is not completely understood, the risk factors include conditions that a GLP-1 drug may be prescribed for, such as diabetes, sleep apnea and kidney disease. If nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy occurs in one eye, there is an increased risk of it occurring in the other eye, according to the FDA.

The FDA safety-labeling changes underscore the fact that GLP-1 drugs are powerful medications with serious adverse events. GLP-1 drugs should only be taken for FDA-approved indications, when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks and under the management of a physician or other clinician.  Public Citizen’s Health Research Group recommends that you Do Not Use compounded GLP-1 products.[ii]

To see the FDA’s alert, visit the following link: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-communications/fda-requires-safety-labeling-changes-glucagon-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-glp-1-ras-due-potential.

Report any adverse events associated with GLP-1 drugs to the FDA online (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/), or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form.