A retrospective cohort study of nearly 200,000 adults found that GLP-1 receptor agonists — drugs like semaglutide and liraglutide — were associated with meaningfully lower rates of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to other medications. In people with diabetes, GLP-1 users had a 17% lower AMD risk versus metformin users. In people with obesity but no diabetes, the risk reduction was even larger — 23% for total AMD and 35% for the dry form specifically. These findings suggest GLP-1 drugs may offer eye-protective benefits beyond their established metabolic effects, potentially relevant to millions of aging adults at risk for vision loss.
