Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40189538›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2025

Increased vision impairment reports linked to semaglutide: analysis of FDA adverse event data.

Marine Massy, Stefanie Marti, Helly Hammer, Robert Hoepner

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Marine MassyDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Rosenbühlgasse 25, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-4282-8609
Stefanie MartiDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Rosenbühlgasse 25, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8237-6965
Helly HammerDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Rosenbühlgasse 25, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland.
Robert HoepnerDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Rosenbühlgasse 25, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland. robert.hoepner@insel.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0115-7021

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSemaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, has recently raised concerns about its ocular safety. This study aimed to investigate the association between semaglutide use and vision impairment using data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

methodsWe conducted an analysis of FAERS data, comparing reports of vision impairment associated with semaglutide to those associated with other antidiabetic and weight loss medications. The main outcome measure was the reporting odds ratio (rOR) for vision impairment linked to semaglutide use compared to other medications.

resultsSemaglutide showed significantly higher reporting of vision impairment compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists (rOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.75-2.17, p < 0.0001), DPP-4 inhibitors (rOR 2.46, 95% CI 2.12-2.86, p < 0.0001), SGLT2 inhibitors (rOR 3.89, 95% CI 3.35-4.51, p < 0.0001), and metformin (rOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.90-2.62, p < 0.0001). Similar findings were observed when compared to phentermine (rOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.07-2.31, p = 0.026) and orlistat (rOR 3.77, 95% CI 2.96-4.81, p < 0.0001). Topiramate was the sole exception, showing higher vision impairment reporting than semaglutide (rOR 0.30, 95% CI 0.20-0.45, p < 0.0001).

conclusionsThese findings suggest a potentially elevated risk of vision impairment with semaglutide use compared to other diabetes and weight loss medications, warranting further investigation and vigilant post-marketing surveillance. Future studies should assess the clinical impact of this potential increased risk on an absolute scale to better inform treatment decisions.

Indexed as

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting SystemsGlucagon-Like PeptidesHypoglycemic AgentsVision DisordersAgedDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2FemaleGlucagon-Like Peptide 1HumansMaleMiddle AgedSemaglutideUnited StatesUnited States Food and Drug AdministrationGlucagon-Like Peptide 1Glucagon-Like PeptidesHypoglycemic AgentsSemaglutideDiabetesObesitySemaglutideVision impairment

Identifiers

PMID40189538
PMCPMC11974072

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Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.