Recent research suggests that the diabetes drug tirzepatide, which is also used for weight loss, may help protect against diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss among people with diabetes. The study, conducted by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, offers reassurance to patients worried about the effects of these medications on their eye health.
Diabetic retinopathy happens when high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the back of the eye. Nearly 10 million Americans live with this condition. Previous studies indicated that GLP-1 drugs, such as semaglutide, could make retinopathy worse. However, the new findings show that tirzepatide, a related drug, is linked to a lower risk of developing new retinopathy or experiencing worsening of the disease.
Dr. Szilárd Kiss, an ophthalmologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, led the research. According to Dr. Kiss, their data suggest that patients with diabetic retinopathy may not need to worry about tirzepatide making their condition worse. Patients who took tirzepatide were found to be less likely to need advanced eye treatments, such as laser therapy or injections.
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide help lower blood sugar and reduce appetite, but tirzepatide works through two hormone pathways, which can lead to greater improvements in insulin sensitivity and weight loss. Dr. Kiss’s team reviewed health records from 174,000 patients across 70 health systems. They compared patients who started tirzepatide with others who chose lifestyle changes and found that tirzepatide users were less likely to have worsening retinopathy after one year.
Researchers plan to continue studying the effects of these drugs with more detailed patient data. The findings could help guide doctors in choosing treatments for diabetes patients, focusing not only on controlling blood sugar and weight but also on keeping their vision safe.
