Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy Before Cataract Surgery

If you take Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, or another GLP-1 medication and you are preparing for cataract or glaucoma surgery, you may wonder whether you need to stop your medication before the procedure.

The answer is not the same for every patient.

Current recommendations favor an individualized approach. Your medical team may recommend continuing your medication, temporarily holding it, following a 24-hour liquid-only diet, changing the anesthesia plan, or taking other precautions. The decision depends on your medication, dose, treatment phase, gastrointestinal symptoms, diabetes control, type of procedure, and planned anesthesia. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

Therefore, do not stop Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound, or another prescribed medication on your own. Your ophthalmologist, anesthesia team, and prescribing clinician should determine the safest plan for you.

What Are GLP-1 Medications?

GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management. Some newer medications, including tirzepatide, act on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors.

Brand name	Generic name	Usual schedule
Ozempic®	Semaglutide	Weekly injection
Wegovy®	Semaglutide	Weekly injection
Rybelsus®	Semaglutide	Daily tablet
Mounjaro®	Tirzepatide	Weekly injection
Zepbound®	Tirzepatide	Weekly injection
Trulicity®	Dulaglutide	Weekly injection
Victoza®	Liraglutide	Daily injection
Saxenda®	Liraglutide	Daily injection
Bydureon BCise®	Exenatide extended-release	Weekly injection
Byetta®	Exenatide	Twice-daily injection
Adlyxin®	Lixisenatide	Daily injection

Tirzepatide, sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound, affects both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Consequently, it raises many of the same preoperative questions about gastric emptying as traditional GLP-1 medications.

Why Can Ozempic and Other GLP-1 Medications Matter Before Surgery?

GLP-1 medications can slow gastric emptying. In other words, food may remain in the stomach longer than expected.

That effect can help people feel full for longer and can contribute to weight loss and better blood sugar control. However, during general anesthesia or deep sedation, stomach contents can increase the risk of regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration.

The FDA has added warnings to GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 medications about rare reports of pulmonary aspiration during procedures involving general anesthesia or deep sedation. At the same time, current evidence does not support automatically stopping these medications for every patient. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

Importantly, this does not mean that taking Ozempic or Wegovy makes cataract surgery unsafe.

Instead, your surgical and anesthesia teams need to know that you take the medication so they can assess your individual risk.

Does This Apply to Cataract and Glaucoma Surgery?

Yes. Patients should disclose GLP-1 medication use before eye surgery, even when the procedure seems relatively short.

Cataract surgery commonly uses topical or local anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care. However, the exact anesthesia plan varies by patient, procedure, and surgery center.

For example, some patients undergoing more complex procedures may require deeper sedation or, in selected circumstances, general anesthesia.

Tell your surgical team if you take a GLP-1 medication before:

• Cataract surgery
• Cataract surgery combined with MIGS
• Glaucoma surgery
• Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), when sedation is planned
• IOL exchange or repositioning
• EVO ICL surgery
• Corneal surgery
• Retinal surgery
• Eyelid surgery
• Any eye procedure involving sedation or general anesthesia

If you also have glaucoma, you can learn more about available treatments, including ⁠Glaucoma care at Precision Eye Care, as part of your overall surgical planning. (⁠Precision Eye Medical)

Should You Stop Ozempic Before Cataract Surgery?

Not necessarily.

Older recommendations from the American Society of Anesthesiologists advised holding daily GLP-1 medications on the day of surgery and weekly medications for seven days before surgery.

However, newer multisociety guidance moved toward a more individualized approach. Similarly, the 2026 American Diabetes Association Standards of Care recommend personalized perioperative management rather than automatically stopping GLP-1 medications for everyone. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

For some patients at low risk of delayed gastric emptying, continuing the medication may be appropriate.

For patients at higher risk, the medical team may recommend additional precautions, such as a 24-hour liquid nutrition plan, changes to anesthesia, or other measures.

Therefore, there is no universal “stop Ozempic seven days before cataract surgery” rule that applies to every patient.

When Might You Continue a GLP-1 Medication Before Surgery?

Your medical team may consider continuing treatment when you:

• Take a stable dose
• Have completed the dose-escalation phase
• Have no significant gastrointestinal symptoms
• Have no known condition that substantially delays gastric emptying
• Have an appropriate anesthesia plan
• Can follow all preoperative diet and fasting instructions
• Could experience problematic blood sugar control if treatment stops

In addition, stopping treatment unnecessarily may create problems with diabetes management or require temporary adjustments to other medications.

The 2026 ADA guidance specifically recommends considering the medication’s indication, current glycemic management, dose, duration, gastrointestinal symptoms, procedure, urgency, and anesthesia plan. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

When Might You Need Extra Precautions?

Your risk may increase if you:

• Recently started a GLP-1 medication
• Recently increased your dose
• Take a higher dose
• Have nausea or vomiting
• Experience abdominal bloating or pain
• Have significant constipation
• Feel unusually full after eating
• Have known gastroparesis
• Have another condition that affects gastric emptying
• Cannot follow the prescribed liquid-diet or fasting instructions

The dose-escalation period deserves particular attention because gastrointestinal side effects occur more often while the dose increases. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

When appropriate, the anesthesia team may recommend a 24-hour liquid-only diet before the procedure. In selected circumstances, clinicians may also consider point-of-care gastric ultrasound or modify the anesthesia plan. (⁠ScienceDirect)

However, patients should never create their own liquid diet or fasting schedule. Follow the exact instructions provided by your surgery center.

Why Shouldn’t You Automatically Stop Ozempic or Mounjaro?

Stopping a medication can also create risks.

For patients with diabetes, interrupting treatment can contribute to:

• Higher blood glucose
• Difficulty maintaining diabetes control
• Dehydration in some circumstances
• Changes to other diabetes medications
• Potential delays or cancellation of surgery if glucose levels become unsafe

Moreover, simply skipping one weekly dose does not guarantee that the medication’s effects on gastric emptying have completely disappeared. The 2026 ADA Standards of Care note that the optimal duration for withholding weekly GLP-1 medications remains uncertain. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

Consequently, the decision should balance the potential aspiration risk against the risks of stopping treatment.

Why Might Your Doctor Still Ask You to Hold the Medication?

Your anesthesia or medical team may recommend temporarily holding a GLP-1 medication when the potential risk appears greater than the risk of interruption.

This may happen when you:

• Have significant gastrointestinal symptoms
• Recently started treatment
• Recently increased your dose
• Have known gastroparesis
• Require general anesthesia or deep sedation
• Cannot follow the required preoperative diet
• Have other conditions associated with delayed gastric emptying

If you take the medication for diabetes and your clinicians decide to hold it, they may also need to create a temporary blood glucose management plan.

Never replace, stop, or restart diabetes medication without specific medical instructions.

What Should I Tell My Eye Surgeon Before Cataract Surgery?

Before surgery, give your eye surgeon and anesthesia team complete information.

1. Tell them the exact medication

Do not simply say “diabetes injection” or “weight-loss medication.”

Tell them whether you take Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity, Victoza, Saxenda, or another GLP-1 medication.

2. Provide your dose and schedule

Tell the team:

• Your current dose
• How often you take it
• The date of your last dose
• Whether your dose recently increased
• When you started treatment

3. Explain why you take it

Your perioperative plan may differ depending on whether you take the medication for diabetes, weight management, or both.

4. Report gastrointestinal symptoms

Tell your medical team if you have:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Unusual fullness
• A history of gastroparesis

5. Follow fasting instructions carefully

If your surgery center prescribes a 24-hour liquid-only diet, follow its specific instructions.

A liquid diet does not replace the fasting instructions from your anesthesia team.

6. Ask before stopping or restarting the medication

If you are unsure what to do with your next dose, contact the appropriate medical team before taking action.

What If I Take an SGLT-2 Inhibitor Too?

GLP-1 medications and SGLT-2 inhibitors require different perioperative considerations.

Common SGLT-2 inhibitors include:

• Jardiance® — empagliflozin
• Farxiga® — dapagliflozin
• Invokana® — canagliflozin
• Steglatro® — ertugliflozin

The ADA 2026 Standards of Care recommend holding SGLT-2 inhibitors for 3–4 days before elective surgery because of the risk of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

This is different from the concern surrounding GLP-1 medications, which centers primarily on delayed gastric emptying and aspiration risk during general anesthesia or deep sedation.

Because medication plans vary, your prescribing clinician and anesthesia team should provide your specific instructions.

Cataract Surgery and GLP-1 Medications in Baltimore

Taking Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound, or another GLP-1 medication does not automatically prevent you from having cataract surgery.

Instead, it gives your ophthalmologist and anesthesia team another important factor to consider during preoperative planning.

At Precision Eye Care in Baltimore, Dr. Maria Soledad Romero takes a personalized approach to cataract and anterior-segment surgery. The practice evaluates your eye health, medical history, medications, lifestyle, surgical goals, and anesthesia considerations before developing an individualized plan.

This approach can benefit patients throughout Baltimore, Towson, Lutherville-Timonium, Pikesville, Roland Park, and Guilford who are considering cataract or glaucoma surgery.

Precision Eye Care also offers advanced cataract surgery and ⁠premium IOL options for patients who want to explore their options for reducing dependence on glasses. (⁠Precision Eye Medical)

For patients with glaucoma, treatment may include medication, ⁠SLT, or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), depending on the individual diagnosis and treatment goals. (⁠Precision Eye Medical)

Can I take Wegovy before eye surgery?

Possibly. Many low-risk patients may continue GLP-1 medications before elective procedures. However, patients with significant gastrointestinal symptoms, recent dose escalation, or other risk factors may need additional precautions. (⁠PubMed Central (PMC))

Why do GLP-1 medications affect anesthesia?

GLP-1 medications can slow gastric emptying. Therefore, some patients may have more residual stomach contents despite following standard fasting instructions. During deep sedation or general anesthesia, that may increase concern about regurgitation and aspiration. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

What happens if I take Ozempic on the day of surgery?

Do not assume that your surgery must be canceled. Tell your surgical and anesthesia teams immediately. They can assess your individual situation and determine whether you need additional precautions or a change in the surgical plan.

Is cataract surgery safe if I take a GLP-1 medication?

For many patients, yes. GLP-1 use does not automatically make cataract surgery unsafe. Instead, the medical team should evaluate the medication and the patient’s individual aspiration risk, particularly when sedation or general anesthesia is involved. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

Should I stop my diabetes medication before cataract surgery?

Not without medical instructions. Different diabetes medications have different perioperative recommendations. For example, SGLT-2 inhibitors generally require a different plan from GLP-1 medications. Your prescribing clinician and anesthesia team should provide your specific instructions. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

Can GLP-1 medications affect glaucoma surgery?

The medication itself does not automatically prevent glaucoma surgery. However, the anesthesia or sedation plan can influence preoperative decisions. This is especially important for patients undergoing procedures that require deeper sedation or general anesthesia.

If you have glaucoma, your ophthalmologist can determine whether treatment such as eye drops, ⁠SLT, or ⁠MIGS is appropriate for your condition. (⁠Precision Eye Medical)

Why Choose a Private Ophthalmology Practice?

At Precision Eye Care, patients receive a personalized evaluation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

As a private ophthalmology practice, our model emphasizes:

• Personalized evaluation: Your medication, eye health, lifestyle, and surgical goals all matter.
• Direct continuity with your surgeon: Dr. Romero remains directly involved in your surgical care and treatment planning.
• Comprehensive ophthalmology: Cataracts, glaucoma, anterior-segment conditions, and advanced vision correction can be evaluated within the same practice.
• Bilingual communication: Patients can receive care and explanations in English or Spanish.
• Individualized surgical planning: Your treatment plan reflects your specific anatomy, health history, and visual needs.

Dr. Romero is a cataract and anterior-segment surgeon and comprehensive ophthalmologist. Her training includes a surgical and clinical fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University. (⁠Precision Eye Medical)

 

The Bottom Line

If you take Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound, or another GLP-1 medication, do not automatically stop it before cataract or glaucoma surgery.

Instead, tell your ophthalmologist, anesthesia team, and prescribing clinician exactly what you take, including your dose, schedule, last dose, treatment phase, and any gastrointestinal symptoms.

Current guidance supports a personalized approach. For some patients, continuing the medication may be appropriate. For others, clinicians may recommend a temporary medication hold, a 24-hour liquid diet, additional evaluation, or changes to the anesthesia plan. (⁠Diabetes Journals)

At Precision Eye Care, Dr. Maria Soledad Romero provides individualized cataract, glaucoma, and anterior-segment care for patients in Baltimore and surrounding communities.

Request an evaluation with Dr. Romero in Baltimore to discuss your eye health, medications, surgical options, and personalized treatment plan.

⁠Request an Appointment

Medical Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and does not replace personalized medical advice. Never stop, restart, or change a prescribed medication based solely on information in this article. Follow the specific instructions provided by your surgeon, anesthesia team, prescribing clinician, endocrinologist, or other healthcare professional.