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.

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.