From each FDA label

Do GLP-1s affect your eyes?

7 of the 10 current GLP-1 labels carry a warning on diabetic eye disease. Wegovy's label says: "In a 2-year trial with semaglutide 0.5 mg and 1 mg once-weekly injection in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and high CV risk, diabetic retinopathy complications (which was a 4-component adjudicated endpoint) occurred in patients treated with semaglutide injection (3%) compared to placebo (1.8%)." Regulators have also flagged NAION, a rare cause of sudden vision loss, which the US labels do not yet list as a warning.

Read from each manufacturer's FDA label on DailyMed. The newest revision saying anything on this is Aug 28, 2026.

Word for word

What each label says about diabetic eye disease

Sentences from each label's warnings and side effect sections. Only cross-references are removed.

Wegovy · Warning: Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

In a 2-year trial with semaglutide 0.5 mg and 1 mg once-weekly injection in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and high CV risk, diabetic retinopathy complications (which was a 4-component adjudicated endpoint) occurred in patients treated with semaglutide injection (3%) compared to placebo (1.8%).
The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline (semaglutide injection 8.2%, placebo 5.2%) than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy (semaglutide injection 0.7%, placebo 0.4%).
In a trial of adult patients with type 2 diabetes and BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m 2 for weight reduction (Study 3), diabetic retinopathy was reported by 4% of Wegovy injection-treated patients and 2.7% placebo-treated patients.
In a trial of adult patients with type 2 diabetes and BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m 2 for weight reduction, retinal disorders were reported by 6.9% of patients treated with Wegovy injection (semaglutide 2.4 mg), 6.2% of patients treated with semaglutide 1 mg, and 4.2% of patients treated with placebo. The majority of events were reported as diabetic retinopathy (4%, 2.7%, and 2.7%, respectively) and non-proliferative retinopathy (0.7%, 0%, and 0%, respectively).

Label revised Jun 18, 2026. DailyMed

Ozempic · Warning: Diabetic Retinopathy Complications

In a 2-year trial involving patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, more events of diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with Ozempic (3.0%) compared to placebo (1.8%).
The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline (Ozempic 8.2%, placebo 5.2%) than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy (Ozempic 0.7%, placebo 0.4%).
Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy.

Label revised Jun 1, 2026. DailyMed

Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets · Warning: Diabetic Retinopathy Complications

In a pooled analysis of glycemic control trials, patients reported diabetic retinopathy related adverse reactions during the trial (4.2% with semaglutide tablets and 3.8% with comparator).
In a 2-year CV outcomes trial with semaglutide injection involving patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and high CV risk, diabetic retinopathy complications (which was a 4-component adjudicated endpoint) occurred in patients treated with semaglutide injection (3%) compared to placebo (1.8%).
The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline (semaglutide injection 8.2%, placebo 5.2%) than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy (semaglutide injection 0.7%, placebo 0.4%).
Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: In the pool of placebo- and active-controlled trials with semaglutide tablets, patients reported diabetic retinopathy related adverse reactions during the trial (4.2% with semaglutide tablets and 3.8% with comparator).

Label revised Jan 30, 2026. DailyMed

Zepbound · Warning: Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy has been reported with rapid improvement in glucose control.
Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Label revised Aug 28, 2026. DailyMed

Mounjaro · Warning: Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with a History of Diabetic Retinopathy

Temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy has been reported with rapid improvement in glucose control.
Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy.
As assessed by baseline fundoscopic examination, 13% of the population had retinopathy.

Label revised Aug 27, 2026. DailyMed

Foundayo · Warning: Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy has been reported with rapid improvement in glucose control.
Foundayo has not been studied in patients with diabetic retinopathy and/or macular edema requiring acute treatment.
Monitor patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy for progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Label revised Jul 29, 2026. DailyMed

Trulicity · Warning: Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with a History of Diabetic Retinopathy

In a cardiovascular outcomes trial with a median follow up of 5.4 years involving patients with type 2 diabetes with established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors, diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with Trulicity 1.5 mg (1.9%) and placebo (1.5%).
These events were prospectively ascertained as a secondary composite endpoint.
The proportion of patients with diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline (Trulicity 8.5%, placebo 6.2%) than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy (Trulicity 1%, placebo 1%).

Label revised Jun 16, 2026. DailyMed

Saxenda, Victoza, Byetta: no finding on this in the sections read here.

Beyond the labels

What regulators have said

Not yet in the US labels above. Dated, and linked to the regulator's own notice.

Eyes: rare risk of sudden vision loss (NAION)

In 2025 the EMA concluded that NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, a rare cause of sudden, usually painless vision loss in one eye) is a 'very rare' side effect of semaglutide (up to about 1 in 10,000 people), and the WHO issued a global alert. In February 2026 the UK's MHRA advised that semaglutide may be very rarely associated with NAION, citing a European review that found an approximately two-fold increase in relative risk in people with type 2 diabetes. In the US, the FDA lists NAION as a potential signal of a serious risk for the whole GLP-1 class and says it is evaluating the need for regulatory action, but no US label lists it as of November 2026. Seek prompt care for any sudden change in vision.

As of Feb 5, 2026. MHRA / EMA (PRAC) / WHO

Eyes: FDA is evaluating a possible risk of sudden vision loss (NAION)

The FDA lists NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, a rare cause of sudden, usually painless vision loss in one eye) as a potential signal of a serious risk for GLP-1 medicines, naming Mounjaro, Zepbound, Victoza, Saxenda, Trulicity, Byetta and Bydureon among them, and says it is evaluating the need for regulatory action. A potential signal is not a confirmed risk: no US label lists NAION as of November 2026, and Europe's conclusion of a very rare risk covers semaglutide only. Seek prompt care for any sudden change in vision.

As of Mar 31, 2025. FDA (adverse event monitoring, potential signals, October to December 2024)

Not from trials

Reports to FDA about diabetic eye disease

Counts of voluntary reports from patients and doctors. They cannot show that a medicine caused anything and cannot give a rate, and a brand used by more people draws more reports.

Medicine	Reports naming	All reports on it
Ozempic	Visual impairment: 1,506 · Vision blurred: 1,104 · Blindness: 344 · Diabetic retinopathy: 151	70,863
Trulicity	Visual impairment: 1,413 · Vision blurred: 632 · Blindness: 207 · Diabetic retinopathy: 118	87,279
Mounjaro	Visual impairment: 893 · Vision blurred: 673 · Blindness: 159 · Diabetic retinopathy: 68	97,440
Byetta	Vision blurred: 460 · Visual impairment: 195 · Blindness: 46 · Diabetic retinopathy: 39	52,087
Zepbound	Visual impairment: 385 · Vision blurred: 305 · Blindness: 51	80,835
Victoza	Visual impairment: 376 · Vision blurred: 297 · Blindness: 68 · Diabetic retinopathy: 58	41,462
Wegovy	Vision blurred: 319 · Visual impairment: 317 · Blindness: 98	25,993
Rybelsus and Ozempic tablets	Vision blurred: 131 · Visual impairment: 101 · Blindness: 39 · Diabetic retinopathy: 22	7,758
Saxenda	Visual impairment: 35 · Vision blurred: 33 · Blindness: 9 · Diabetic retinopathy: 2	7,270
Foundayo	Vision blurred: 23 · Visual impairment: 10	3,050

Counted through openFDA from FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System, refreshed weekly. One report can name several terms.

Updated automatically

Latest FDA label updates

Aug 28, 2026FDA labelFDA label updated: Zepbound (Eli Lilly and Company), effective 2026-08-28
Aug 27, 2026FDA labelFDA label updated: Mounjaro (Eli Lilly and Company), effective 2026-08-27
Jul 29, 2026FDA labelFDA label updated: Foundayo (Eli Lilly and Company), effective 2026-07-29
Jul 27, 2026FDA labelFDA label updated: Liraglutide (Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc.), effective 2026-07-27
Jun 24, 2026FDA labelFDA label updated: Liraglutide (NorthStar Rx LLC), effective 2026-06-24

Written from each source's own record as it changes. Every change on GLPcompare

Questions

Eye problems on a GLP-1: common questions

Does Wegovy affect your eyes?

Its FDA label: In a 2-year trial with semaglutide 0.5 mg and 1 mg once-weekly injection in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and high CV risk, diabetic retinopathy complications (which was a 4-component adjudicated endpoint) occurred in patients treated with semaglutide injection (3%) compared to placebo (1.8%). The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline (semaglutide injection 8.2%, placebo 5.2%) than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy (semaglutide injection 0.7%, placebo 0.4%).

Does Ozempic affect your eyes?

Its FDA label: In a 2-year trial involving patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, more events of diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with Ozempic (3.0%) compared to placebo (1.8%). The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline (Ozempic 8.2%, placebo 5.2%) than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy (Ozempic 0.7%, placebo 0.4%).

Does Rybelsus affect your eyes?

Its FDA label: In a pooled analysis of glycemic control trials, patients reported diabetic retinopathy related adverse reactions during the trial (4.2% with semaglutide tablets and 3.8% with comparator). In a 2-year CV outcomes trial with semaglutide injection involving patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and high CV risk, diabetic retinopathy complications (which was a 4-component adjudicated endpoint) occurred in patients treated with semaglutide injection (3%) compared to placebo (1.8%).

Does Zepbound affect your eyes?

Its FDA label: Temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy has been reported with rapid improvement in glucose control. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Does Mounjaro affect your eyes?

Does Foundayo affect your eyes?

Its FDA label: Temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy has been reported with rapid improvement in glucose control. Foundayo has not been studied in patients with diabetic retinopathy and/or macular edema requiring acute treatment.

Does Trulicity affect your eyes?

Its FDA label: In a cardiovascular outcomes trial with a median follow up of 5.4 years involving patients with type 2 diabetes with established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors, diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with Trulicity 1.5 mg (1.9%) and placebo (1.5%). These events were prospectively ascertained as a secondary composite endpoint.

Trial rates describe groups, not what one person will feel. Talk to your clinician before starting, stopping or changing a medicine.

GLPcompare is an informational data platform, not a medical provider or pharmacy. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment. Data is aggregated from public sources and can be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm with a licensed clinician and the current FDA label.