GLP-1 drugs must now carry a warning label about a potential link to a rare eye condition that can result in vision loss, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Nov. 9. 2026. The eye condition is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, and doctors often refer to it as a stroke of the eye.
I am a clinician and epidemiologist who has studied GLP-1 drugs, and my colleagues and I published one of the studies that identified a link between GLP-1 drugs and NAION.
kAm|:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5 E2<6 E96D6 >65:42E:@?D – :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]82==FA]4@>^A@==^f`a`df^8=A\FD286\C62496D\?6H\9:89]2DAIQmb_ >:==:@? :? E96 &]$]k^2m – E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^3@@<D^}qzdd`deg^QmEC62E 5:236E6D 2?5 @36D:EJk^2m 2?5 C65F46 E96 C:D< @7 42C5:@G2D4F=2C 5:D62D6] %96J 2C6 2=D@ 36:?8 :?G6DE:82E65 7@C 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`dh`\_ac\_bc`a\HQm6IA2?5:?8 =:DE @7 4=:?:42= 4@?5:E:@?Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 52E2 @? H9:49 E96 usp’D H2C?:?8 :D 32D65 DF886DED 2 C62= 3FE =@H C:D< @7 }px~} 7@C A6@A=6 E2<:?8 v{!\` >65:42E:@?D] %9:D :D ?@E 2 EC:G:2= @C :?4@?D6BF6?E:2= @FE4@>6 7@C E9@D6 H9@ 56G6=@A E96 6J6 DEC@<6] qFE @? 32=2?46[ :7 J@F’C6 FD:?8 E96 >65:42E:@? 7@C 2? usp\2AAC@G65 4@?5:E:@? DF49 2D 5:236E6D @C @36D:EJ @? E96 25G:46 @7 J@FC 5@4E@C[ E96 C:D< D9@F=5 ?@E 56E6C J@F 7C@> 5@:?8 D@]k^Am
kAmw6C6’D H92E A2E:6?ED H9@ FD6 v{!\` 5CF8D ?665 E@ <?@H 23@FE E9:D C2C6 3FE D6C:@FD D:56 67764E]k^Am
k9am(92E :D }px~}nk^9am
kAm}px~} :D 2? :?;FCJ E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>J]4=6G6=2?54=:?:4]@C8^962=E9^3@5J^aaae`\@AE:4\?6CG6Qm@AE:4 ?6CG6k^2m[ H9:49 :D E96 ?6CG6 E92E 4@??64ED E96 6J6 E@ E96 3C2:?] %9:D 6J6 4@?5:E:@? :D 42FD65 3J 2 DF556? C65F4E:@? :? 3=@@5 7=@H] (:E9@FE 6?@F89 3=@@5 7=@H[ A2E:6?ED >2J 6IA6C:6?46 DF556?[ A2:?=6DD 3=FCCJ G:D:@?[ 52C< A2E496D[ A2CE:2= =@DD @7 G:D:@? @C 6G6? 3=:?5?6DD]k^Am
kAm%96D6 DJ>AE@>D 86?6C2==J A6CD:DE 2?5 @7E6? =625 E@ A6C>2?6?E G:DF2= :>A2:C>6?E] !2E:6?ED @7E6? ?@E:46 E96D6 DJ>AE@>D 7:CDE E9:?8 :? E96 >@C?:?8 H96? E96J H2<6 FA[ 2D :E E6?5D E@ 92AA6? >@C6 7C6BF6?E=J 2E ?:89E H96? 3=@@5 AC6DDFC6 :D ?2EFC2==J =@H6C]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^7"'Bg>ED'@8nH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?m}px~}[ 2? :?;FCJ E@ E96 @AE:4 ?6CG6[ 42? 42FD6 DF556? =@DD @7 G:D:@?]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9amw@H 5:5 E96 usp :56?E:7J E96 4@??64E:@?nk^9am
kAmpD FD6 @7 v{!\` 5CF8D :?4C62D65 – A2CE:4F=2C=J D:?46 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>65D42A6]4@>^G:6H2CE:4=6^hdacc`Qma_a`[ H96? E96J H6C6 2AAC@G65 7@C @36D:EJk^2m – 42D6D @7 }px~} 3682? E@ 6>6C86] p a_ac DEF5J @7 4=@D6 E@ `f[___ A2E:6?ED C676CC65 E@ @A9E92=>@=@8J 4=:?:4D H2D E96 7:CDE E@ D9@H 2 A@E6?E:2= =:?<] xE C6A@CE65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__`^;2>2@A9E92=>@=]a_ac]aaheQm2? :?4C62D65 C:D< @7 E96 6J6 4@?5:E:@?k^2m 2>@?8 E96 DF3D6E @7 E9@D6 A2E:6?ED H9@ H6C6 AC6D4C:365 2 v{!\` 5CF8]k^Am
kAm%@ 56E6C>:?6 E92E E96 4@??64E:@? H2D DEC@?8 6?@F89 E@ >6C:E 2 H2C?:?8[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]752]8@G^5CF8D^5CF8\D276EJ\4@>>F?:42E:@?D^752\C6BF:C6D\D276EJ\=236=:?8\492?86D\8=F428@?\A6AE:56\`\C646AE@C\28@?:DED\8=A\`\C2D\5F6\A@E6?E:2=Qmusp 7:CDE 4@>A:=65 52E2k^2m 7C@> `ae C2?5@>:K65[ 4@?EC@==65 4=:?:42= EC:2=D @7 v{!\` 5CF8D] %9@D6 EC:2=D :?4=F565 2 E@E2= @7 `bc[adb A2E:6?ED – fg[a`f @7 E96> H6C6 @? v{!\` 5CF8D 2?5 de[_be C646:G65 2 A=2463@ @C 2 5:776C6?E >65:42E:@?[ 7@C 4@>A2C:D@?]k^Am
kAm!6C J62C[ @? 2G6C286[ E96 :?4:56?46 @7 }px~} 42D6D H2D e]c A6C `__[___ A6@A=6 7@C A2E:6?ED E2<:?8 E96 v{!\` 5CF8D 2?5 b]g A6C `__[___ 2>@?8 A6@A=6 8:G6? 2 A=2463@ @C @E96C 5CF8] %9:D EC2?D=2E65 :?E@ a]e 6IEC2 42D6D @7 }px~} A6C `__[___ A2E:6?ED @? v{!\` 5CF8D]k^Am
kAmx? 2 D6A2C2E6 2?2=JD:D[ E96 usp C6G:6H65 v{!\` 5CF8 52E2 7C@> :ED @H? ?6EH@C< @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]752]8@G^D276EJ^752D\D6?E:?6=\:?:E:2E:G6QmD6?E:?6= AC@8C2>Dk^2m E92E EC24< E96 C62=\H@C=5 D276EJ @7 2AAC@G65 >65:42E:@?D] %96J 2DD6DD65 9@H @7E6? A6@A=6 H:E9 EJA6 a 5:236E6D H9@ DE2CE65 6:E96C 2 v{!\` 5CF8 @C EH@ @E96C 4@>>@? EJA6D @7 5:236E6D >65:42E:@?D C6A@CE65 92G:?8 }px~} 36EH66? a_`h 2?5 a_ac]k^Am
kAm!2E:6?ED E2<:?8 v{!\` 5CF8D 925 2 D>2== 3FE >62?:?87F==J 9:896C C:D< 4@>A2C65 E@ @?6 EJA6 @7 5:236E6D 5CF8[ 42==65 s!!\c :?9:3:E@CD[ H9:49 AC6G6?E E96 3C62<5@H? @7 E96 3@5J’D @H? ?2EFC2= v{!\`] ~G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 @?6 J62C[ E9@D6 E2<:?8 v{!\` 5CF8D 6IA6C:6?465 }px~} 2E 2 C2E6 @7 ba A6C `__[___ 2?5 E9@D6 E2<:?8 s!!\c :?9:3:E@CD 2E 2 C2E6 @7 ae A6C `__[___] %9:D C6DF=E65 :? e 6IEC2 42D6D @7 }px~} A6C `__[___ A2E:6?ED 2>@?8 A6@A=6 @? v{!\` 5CF8D]k^Am
k9amxD E96C6 @E96C 6G:56?46 @7 E96 C:D<nk^9am
kAm~E96C DEF5:6D E92E FD6 C62=\H@C=5 52E2 DF49 2D 6=64EC@?:4 962=E9 C64@C5D @C :?DFC2?46 4=2:>D E@ EC24< E96 962=E9 @7 A6@A=6 @G6C >2?J J62CD 92G6 2=D@ 7@F?5 2 4@?D:DE6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]abbf^54ad\`abgQm2DD@4:2E:@? 36EH66? v{!\` 5CF8D 2?5 }px~}k^2m]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ >J 4@==628F6D 2?5 x EC24<65 ?62C=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__`^;2>2?6EH@C<@A6?]a_ae]hh`fQme__[___ &]$] G6E6C2?D H:E9 EJA6 a 5:236E6Dk^2m DE2CE:?8 6:E96C 2 v{!\` 5CF8 @C 2 5:776C6?E 5CF8 @G6C E9C66 J62CD] u@C A2E:6?ED @? v{!\` 5CF8D[ H6 7@F?5 E92E E96 :?4:56?46 @7 E9:D 6J6 5:D@C56C H2D C@F89=J bh_ 42D6D A6C `__[___ A6@A=6[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 ah_ A6C `__[___ @? 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 >65:42E:@?] x? @E96C H@C5D[ 2>@?8 A6@A=6 E2<:?8 v{!\` 5CF8D[ E96C6 H6C6 23@FE `__ 6IEC2 42D6D A6C `__[___ A2E:6?ED]k^Am
kAm%92E ?F>36C G2C:65 D@>6H92E 24C@DD DEF5:6D[ AC@323=J 3642FD6 @7 8C@FA 5:776C6?46D 2>@?8 A2E:6?ED] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :? D@>6[ A2E:6?ED H6C6 @? 2G6C286 @=56C[ @C 2=D@ 925 @E96C 4@?5:E:@?D E92E >:89E 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ E96:C C:D<]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp D496>2E:4 5C2H:?8 @7 E96 2?2E@>J @7 E96 9F>2? 6J6[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 @AE:4 ?6CG6Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^ff`a`c^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae```_\ec\35IaA=];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m}@?\2CE6C:E:4 2?E6C:@C :D496>:4 @AE:4 ?6FC@A2E9J[ @C }px~}[ :D 2? :?;FCJ E@ E96 @AE:4 ?6CG6 42FD65 3J 2 5:DCFAE:@? :? 3=@@5 7=@H] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^:==FDEC2E:@?^9F>2?\6J6\2?2E@>J\5:28C2>\:?\7=2E\56D:8?\@?\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:==FDEC2E:@?^a`deb`h`bdQmq=F62DEC@^:$E@4< G:2 v6EEJ x>286D !=FDk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm(92E’D 4=62C :D E92E E96 D=:89E=J :?4C62D65 C:D< @7 }px~} 5@6D ?@E D66> E@ 36 DA64:7:4 E@ 2?J @?6 v{!\` 5CF8 3FE 42? @44FC C682C5=6DD @7 H9:49 v{!\` 5CF8 2 A2E:6?E E2<6D] xE’D A@DD:3=6 E92E D@>6 v{!\` 5CF8D >2J 92G6 2 9:896C C:D< E92? @E96CD[ 3FE D@ 72C[ E96C6’D ?@ C6D62C49 255C6DD:?8 E9:D]k^Am
kAm%96 usp’D 2??@F?46>6?E 7@==@HD 2 a_ad C6G:6H 3J tFC@A62? C68F=2E@CD[ H9:49 6I2>:?65 }px~} C:D< :? @?=J @?6 EJA6 @7 v{!\` 5CF8[ 42==65 D6>28=FE:56] xE 4@?4=F565 E92E E9:D 6J6 4@?5:E:@? :D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6>2]6FC@A2]6F^6?^?6HD^AC24\4@?4=F56D\6J6\4@?5:E:@?\?2:@?\G6CJ\C2C6\D:56\67764E\D6>28=FE:56\>65:4:?6D\@K6>A:4\CJ36=DFD\H68@GJQmG6CJ C2C6 D:56 67764E @7 D6>28=FE:56k^2m 2?5 >2?52E65 E92E E96 A24<286 :?D6CE 36 FA52E65 E@ :?4=F56 }px~} 2D 2 G6CJ C2C6 D:56 67764E]k^Am
k9am%96 FAD9@E 7@C A2E:6?EDk^9am
kAm%96 C:D< @7 }px~} H:E9 v{!\` 5CF8D :D =:<6=J C62=] p== E96 6G:56?46 – E96 usp’D EH@ 2?2=JD6D[ E96 C62=\H@C=5 DEF5:6D 4@?5F4E65 3J :?56A6?56?E C6D62C496CD 2?5 E96 724E E92E EH@ C68F=2E@CD C624965 E96 D2>6 G:6H :?56A6?56?E=J – A@:?ED :? E96 D2>6 5:C64E:@?]k^Am
kAmqFE :? E6C>D @7 E96 E@E2= ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 =:<6=J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E9:D D:56 67764E[ E96 C:D< :D D>2==] x? >J G:6H[ E9:D >2<6D E96 usp’D H2C?:?8 ?@E 2 42FD6 7@C 2=2C> 3FE C2E96C 2? F?=:<6=J 3FE ?@E :>A@DD:3=6 @FE4@>6 E92E 3@E9 4=:?:4:2?D 2?5 A2E:6?ED D9@F=5 36 2H2C6 @7]k^Am
kAmr=:?:4:2?D D9@F=5 5:D4FDD :E H:E9 E96:C A2E:6?ED 367@C6 AC6D4C:3:?8 2 v{!\` 5CF8 – 2?5 A2E:6?ED D9@F=5 36 65F42E65 @? E96 DJ>AE@>D @7 }px~} 2?5 9@H E@ E6== :7 E96J 2C6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 :E]k^Am
kAm!2E:6?ED D9@F=5 2=D@ D66< :>>65:2E6 42C6 2E E96 62C=:6DE D:8?D @7 G:D:@? AC@3=6>D] u@C A2E:6?ED H9@ 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J 925 }px~} @C H9@ 2=C625J 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]bbgh^7>65]a_a`]e`gbdbQmC:D< 724E@CD 7@C :Ek^2m[ :?4=F5:?8 D>@<:?8[ 5:236E6D[ 9:89 3=@@5 AC6DDFC6[ D=66A 2A?62[ 2?6>:2 2?5 <:5?6J 5:D62D6[ 42C67F= 5:D4FDD:@? H6:89:?8 E96 C:D<D 2?5 36?67:ED :D :>A@CE2?E]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheabfQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^K:J25\2=\2=J\d`beebnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheabfQm+:J25 p=\p=Jk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^H2D9:?8E@?\F?:G6CD:EJ\:?\DE\=@F:D\fbanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheabfQm(2D9:?8E@? &?:G6CD:EJ :? $E] {@F:Dk^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^D4:6?46\:D\86EE:?8\4=@D6C\E@\362E:?8\>2=2C:2\D@\H92ED\DE:==\:?\E96\H2J\b\2C62D\H96C6\24E:@?\42?\>2<6\2?\:>A24E\ahdfe`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheabfQm$4:6?46 :D 86EE:?8 4=@D6C E@ 362E:?8 >2=2C:2[ D@ H92E’D DE:== :? E96 H2Jn b 2C62D H96C6 24E:@? 42? >2<6 2? :>A24Ek^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^>2<:?8\8=A\`\H6:89E\=@DD\5CF8D\4962A6C\:D?E\6?@F89\E@\255C6DD\2>6C:42D\@36D:EJ\AC@3=6>\96C6D\H9J\aehbe`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheabfQm|2<:?8 v{!‑` H6:89E =@DD 5CF8D 4962A6C :D?’E 6?@F89 E@ 255C6DD p>6C:42’D @36D:EJ AC@3=6> – 96C6’D H9Jk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^42?\@K6>A:4\AC6G6?E\42?46C\2\5@4E@C\6IA=2:?D\H9J\E96\9625=:?6D\2C6\62DJ\E@\>:DC625\agda_enFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aheabfQmr2? ~K6>A:4 AC6G6?E 42?46Cn p 5@4E@C 6IA=2:?D H9J E96 9625=:?6D 2C6 62DJ E@ >:DC625k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m+:J25 p=\p=J 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^aheabf^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am