GLP-1 Medications May Improve Dry Eye Symptoms in Diabetes Patients | Research

The takeaway

Patients with type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 receptor agonists had significantly better tear production and tear film stability than those on other medications.

15 mm vs. 7.5 mm
Schirmer test values (tear production) in GLP-1 users vs. non-users

What the researchers found

GLP-1 RA users had median Schirmer values of 15 mm vs. 7.5 mm and median TBUT of 10 sec vs. 5.85 sec compared to non-users.

Why it matters

Dry eye disease is very common in diabetes patients. If GLP-1 medications improve ocular surface health, this is an important additional benefit to consider.

The numbers in context

- 35 patients: 21 on GLP-1 RAs, 14 on other diabetes drugs

- Schirmer test: 15 mm (GLP-1) vs 7.5 mm (control), p=0.016

- Tear breakup time: 10 sec (GLP-1) vs 5.85 sec (control), p=0.016

How the study worked

Single-center case-control study of 35 patients with type 2 diabetes.

Who was studied

N=35 adults with type 2 diabetes at a single center. 21 on GLP-1 RAs, 14 on non-GLP-1 diabetes drugs.

What this study cannot tell us

Very small sample size (35 patients). Single center. Case-control design cannot prove causation. Groups may differ in ways not accounted for.

How to read the evidence

Small case-control study. Low evidence level; hypothesis-generating. Larger controlled studies needed.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

GLP-1 receptor agonists continue to reveal benefits beyond glucose control, potentially including anti-inflammatory effects on the ocular surface.

Questions still open

What mechanism explains GLP-1 improvement of ocular surface health?
Would these findings hold in a larger randomized trial?

Common questions

Can diabetes medications help with dry eyes?

This small study suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists may improve tear production and stability in type 2 diabetes patients, but larger studies are needed to confirm.

Why do diabetes patients get dry eyes?

Diabetes causes chronic inflammation and nerve damage that can reduce tear production and quality, making dry eye disease very common in diabetic patients.

Read the original research

GLP-1R Agonists Improve Ocular Surface Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 19, 3829-3836

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Ottonelli, Giovanni; Gaeta, Alessandro; Montericcio, Novella; Tredici, Costanza; Ortfeldt, Vittoria; Birtolo, Maria Francesca; Jaafar, Simona; Mirani, Marco; Di Maria, Alessandra. (2025). GLP-1R Agonists Improve Ocular Surface Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 19, 3829-3836. https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S547776