Patients and the public
Optic nerve health, NAION, and GLP-1 medicines, in plain language
Sudden vision loss in one eye needs same-day care. Call an eye doctor or go to the emergency department.
Guides
- GLP-1 medicines and your eyes — what NAION is, how uncommon it is, warning signs, and Dr. Deom’s recommended eye exam.
- NAION risk factors — a detailed guide to each factor, including a crowded optic nerve, sleep apnea, blood pressure, and medicines.
- Understanding the numbers — how to read the studies, relative versus absolute risk, and what regulators have said.
Further patient pages — including what the optic nerve is, what to expect at an exam, a standalone FAQ, and printable handouts — are still being written. The guides above already cover much of that material.
Dr. Deom’s recommendation (clinical opinion / practice recommendation)
Dr. James Deom recommends that everyone starting or taking a GLP-1 medication have a comprehensive dilated eye exam with OCT, OCT angiography (OCTA), and retinal photography (fundus photos with autofluorescence) as a baseline and for follow-up, and seek same-day care for sudden vision loss.
This is his clinical opinion, not a formal rule from every professional group. See the GLP-1 patient page and the study comparison for how this differs from AAO/NANOS and AOA positions.
To request an exam, see Find an Eye Doctor.
Medical disclaimer. This page is for general education only. It is not medical advice and does not replace an examination or a conversation with your own doctors. Do not start, stop, or change any medicine without talking to the clinician who prescribes it. If you have sudden vision loss, seek same-day care from an eye doctor or an emergency department. Information is current as of the “last reviewed” date and may change as new research is published.