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New research · Ophthalmology
Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 12h
Cohort studyClinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analogs Associated with a Reduced Risk of Legal Blindness in Type 2 Diabetics with Cardiovascular Risks.

Ethan Jarrett, Jawad Muayad, Byoung U Ryu … Praveena K Gupta
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OphthalmologyCohort study

GLP-1 receptor agonist use associated with lower risk of legal blindness in type 2 diabetes

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analogs Associated with a Reduced Risk of Legal Blindness in Type 2 Diabetics with Cardiovascular Risks.

Ethan Jarrett … Praveena K Gupta
Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026
Purpose

To evaluate whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy influences the risk of legal blindness and ischemic optic neuropathy (ischemic optic neuropathy) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular risk factors (cardiovascular risk factors).

Methods

Adults (≥18 years) with T2DM (A1c <10%) and at least one cardiovascular risk factors (hyperlipidemia, essential hypertension, overweight/obesity, or chronic ischemic heart disease) who were prescribed or not prescribed a GLP-1 RA.

n = 350,536 patients
Results

GLP-1 users were about a third less likely to develop legal blindness

HR by subgroup · 95% CI
null = 1
legal blindness at 1 year
0.59
3 years
0.68
5 years
0.67
cohorts at 1 year
0.87
3 years
1.00
More results

After propensity score matching, each cohort included 350,536 patients (mean age 58.7 ± 12.6 years; 61.6% female).

There was no significant difference in ischemic optic neuropathy incidence between cohorts at 1 year (HR 0.872, 95% CI 0.627-1.212), 3 years (HR 1.002, 95% CI 0.792-1.268), or 5 years (HR 0.978, 95% CI 0.789-1.211).

“
Conclusion · 1 of 2

GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of legal blindness and no difference in ischemic optic neuropathy incidence.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

These findings indicate potential ocular benefits of GLP-1 RAs beyond glycemic and cardiovascular outcomes.

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