Potential eye disorders in people with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists; an examination of the FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database

Mya Murray; Fabrizio Schifano; Stefania Chiappini; John Martin Corkery; Amira Guirguis

doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.015

Potential eye disorders in people with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists; an examination of the FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database

Mya Murray
, Fabrizio Schifano
, Stefania Chiappini
, John Martin Corkery
, Amira Guirguis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose: As use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and weight management increases, emerging research identifies various adverse drug reactions. This study aimed to expand this research base, focusing on eye disorders in people with and without T2DM, a novel consideration. Design: A retrospective clinical cohort disproportionality analysis of reports made to the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: FAERS was queried regarding selected GLP-1RAs. Python 3.11 was adopted to develop a program, quantifying reported cases between January 2017 - September 2025 (January 2022-September 2025 for tirzepatide) meeting the criteria for cases with and without T2DM. Main outcome measures Reporting Odds Ratios (RORs) >4.000 and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, with metformin and orlistat as controls. Results: Compared to metformin, semaglutide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 12.269 [0.915-1.967]), cataract (ROR: 31.879 [2.463-4.461]) and retinopathy (ROR: 5.185 [0.556-2.736]) in T2DM patients, and retinopathy (ROR: 9.424 [1.081-3.406]) and retinal hemorrhage (ROR: 10.253 [0.319-4.336]) in non-T2DM patients. Tirzepatide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 4.619 [0.726-2.335]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 15.579 [0.554-4.938]) in T2DM patients and eye swelling (ROR: 6.475 [0.407-3.329]) in non-T2DM patients. Liraglutide showed increased reporting of cataract (ROR: 53.866 [2.945-5.028]), diabetic retinopathy (ROR: 18.162 [1.753-4.045]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 26.261 [1.076-5.460]) in T2DM patients and cataract (ROR: 9.628 [1.387-3.142]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 9.557 [0.110-4.405]) in non-T2DM patients. Conclusions: These results provide a signal of increased reporting of various eye disorders with GLP-1RA use compared to metformin across T2DM and non-T2DM patient cases. Further research is required to support these findings and confirm a biological causation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	279-290
Number of pages	12
Journal	American Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume	283
Early online date	20 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.015
Publication status	Published - 31 Mar 2026

Keywords

Potential eye disorders
GLP-1 receptor agonists
FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database

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© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, to view a copy of the license, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Final published version, 463 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{cbc866b0370d40e9aaba6984ed6b5776,

title = "Potential eye disorders in people with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists; an examination of the FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database",

abstract = "Purpose: As use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and weight management increases, emerging research identifies various adverse drug reactions. This study aimed to expand this research base, focusing on eye disorders in people with and without T2DM, a novel consideration. Design: A retrospective clinical cohort disproportionality analysis of reports made to the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: FAERS was queried regarding selected GLP-1RAs. Python 3.11 was adopted to develop a program, quantifying reported cases between January 2017 - September 2025 (January 2022-September 2025 for tirzepatide) meeting the criteria for cases with and without T2DM. Main outcome measures Reporting Odds Ratios (RORs) >4.000 and 95\% confidence intervals were calculated, with metformin and orlistat as controls. Results: Compared to metformin, semaglutide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 12.269 [0.915-1.967]), cataract (ROR: 31.879 [2.463-4.461]) and retinopathy (ROR: 5.185 [0.556-2.736]) in T2DM patients, and retinopathy (ROR: 9.424 [1.081-3.406]) and retinal hemorrhage (ROR: 10.253 [0.319-4.336]) in non-T2DM patients. Tirzepatide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 4.619 [0.726-2.335]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 15.579 [0.554-4.938]) in T2DM patients and eye swelling (ROR: 6.475 [0.407-3.329]) in non-T2DM patients. Liraglutide showed increased reporting of cataract (ROR: 53.866 [2.945-5.028]), diabetic retinopathy (ROR: 18.162 [1.753-4.045]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 26.261 [1.076-5.460]) in T2DM patients and cataract (ROR: 9.628 [1.387-3.142]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 9.557 [0.110-4.405]) in non-T2DM patients. Conclusions: These results provide a signal of increased reporting of various eye disorders with GLP-1RA use compared to metformin across T2DM and non-T2DM patient cases. Further research is required to support these findings and confirm a biological causation.",

keywords = "Potential eye disorders, GLP-1 receptor agonists, FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database",

author = "Mya Murray and Fabrizio Schifano and Stefania Chiappini and Corkery, \{John Martin\} and Amira Guirguis",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, to view a copy of the license, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",

year = "2026",

month = mar,

day = "31",

doi = "10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.015",

language = "English",

volume = "283",

pages = "279--290",

journal = "American Journal of Ophthalmology",

issn = "0002-9394",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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Potential eye disorders in people with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists; an examination of the FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database. / Murray, Mya; Schifano, Fabrizio; Chiappini, Stefania et al.
In: American Journal of Ophthalmology, Vol. 283, 31.03.2026, p. 279-290.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential eye disorders in people with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists; an examination of the FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database

AU - Murray, Mya

AU - Schifano, Fabrizio

AU - Chiappini, Stefania

AU - Corkery, John Martin

AU - Guirguis, Amira

N1 - © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, to view a copy of the license, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

PY - 2026/3/31

Y1 - 2026/3/31

N2 - Purpose: As use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and weight management increases, emerging research identifies various adverse drug reactions. This study aimed to expand this research base, focusing on eye disorders in people with and without T2DM, a novel consideration. Design: A retrospective clinical cohort disproportionality analysis of reports made to the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: FAERS was queried regarding selected GLP-1RAs. Python 3.11 was adopted to develop a program, quantifying reported cases between January 2017 - September 2025 (January 2022-September 2025 for tirzepatide) meeting the criteria for cases with and without T2DM. Main outcome measures Reporting Odds Ratios (RORs) >4.000 and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, with metformin and orlistat as controls. Results: Compared to metformin, semaglutide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 12.269 [0.915-1.967]), cataract (ROR: 31.879 [2.463-4.461]) and retinopathy (ROR: 5.185 [0.556-2.736]) in T2DM patients, and retinopathy (ROR: 9.424 [1.081-3.406]) and retinal hemorrhage (ROR: 10.253 [0.319-4.336]) in non-T2DM patients. Tirzepatide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 4.619 [0.726-2.335]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 15.579 [0.554-4.938]) in T2DM patients and eye swelling (ROR: 6.475 [0.407-3.329]) in non-T2DM patients. Liraglutide showed increased reporting of cataract (ROR: 53.866 [2.945-5.028]), diabetic retinopathy (ROR: 18.162 [1.753-4.045]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 26.261 [1.076-5.460]) in T2DM patients and cataract (ROR: 9.628 [1.387-3.142]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 9.557 [0.110-4.405]) in non-T2DM patients. Conclusions: These results provide a signal of increased reporting of various eye disorders with GLP-1RA use compared to metformin across T2DM and non-T2DM patient cases. Further research is required to support these findings and confirm a biological causation.

AB - Purpose: As use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and weight management increases, emerging research identifies various adverse drug reactions. This study aimed to expand this research base, focusing on eye disorders in people with and without T2DM, a novel consideration. Design: A retrospective clinical cohort disproportionality analysis of reports made to the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: FAERS was queried regarding selected GLP-1RAs. Python 3.11 was adopted to develop a program, quantifying reported cases between January 2017 - September 2025 (January 2022-September 2025 for tirzepatide) meeting the criteria for cases with and without T2DM. Main outcome measures Reporting Odds Ratios (RORs) >4.000 and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, with metformin and orlistat as controls. Results: Compared to metformin, semaglutide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 12.269 [0.915-1.967]), cataract (ROR: 31.879 [2.463-4.461]) and retinopathy (ROR: 5.185 [0.556-2.736]) in T2DM patients, and retinopathy (ROR: 9.424 [1.081-3.406]) and retinal hemorrhage (ROR: 10.253 [0.319-4.336]) in non-T2DM patients. Tirzepatide showed increased reporting of optic ischemic neuropathy (ROR: 4.619 [0.726-2.335]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 15.579 [0.554-4.938]) in T2DM patients and eye swelling (ROR: 6.475 [0.407-3.329]) in non-T2DM patients. Liraglutide showed increased reporting of cataract (ROR: 53.866 [2.945-5.028]), diabetic retinopathy (ROR: 18.162 [1.753-4.045]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 26.261 [1.076-5.460]) in T2DM patients and cataract (ROR: 9.628 [1.387-3.142]) and macular degeneration (ROR: 9.557 [0.110-4.405]) in non-T2DM patients. Conclusions: These results provide a signal of increased reporting of various eye disorders with GLP-1RA use compared to metformin across T2DM and non-T2DM patient cases. Further research is required to support these findings and confirm a biological causation.

KW - Potential eye disorders

KW - GLP-1 receptor agonists

KW - FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105027737994

U2 - 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.015

DO - 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.12.015

M3 - Article

SN - 0002-9394

VL - 283

SP - 279

EP - 290

JO - American Journal of Ophthalmology

JF - American Journal of Ophthalmology

ER -

Potential eye disorders in people with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists; an examination of the FAERS (FDA Adverse Event reporting System) database

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