Impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on diabetic retinopathy: A meta-analysis of clinical studies emphasising retinal changes as a primary outcome.

Background: To determine if glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are associated with the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase from inception to February 2024 to identify clinical studies reporting the development of and changes in DR as the primary outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1RA, insulin, or oral antidiabetic medication (OAD). Two researchers independently completed the search and referred to a third as necessary.