Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 08, 2025 5 hours, 47 minutes ago
Medical News: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. It occurs when retinal ganglion cells, which are vital for vision, progressively die off. The main treatment today focuses on lowering eye pressure, but sadly, many patients continue to lose vision even with proper pressure control. This has led scientists to search for new strategies that protect the nerves directly.
New Hope for Glaucoma Patients with Next Generation Neuroprotective Therapy
The New Approach in Focus
A team of researchers from the Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’ in Italy, the Ophthalmic Research Unit “Santiago Grisolia” at the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community in Spain, and the Department of Ophthalmology at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the UK have reviewed the latest advancements in nerve-protecting treatments. In this
Medical News report, they highlight how combining certain natural and pharmaceutical compounds could better protect eyesight in glaucoma patients.
The scientists explored how molecules like citicoline, coenzyme Q10, pyruvate, nicotinamide, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), homotaurine, berberine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can work together to stop nerve cell death. Unlike single therapies, these combinations target multiple damaging processes at once—such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial damage.
Key Findings of the Study
-Citicoline: Helps nerve cells by stabilizing mitochondria and boosting neurotransmitters. Clinical studies showed it can improve visual field performance and retinal responses.
-Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Supports energy production in cells and acts as an antioxidant. Eye drops with CoQ10 and vitamin E improved retinal function and preserved vision in patients.
-Pyruvate: Protects against oxidative stress and supplies energy to weakened nerve cells. In animal models, it reduced optic nerve damage.
-Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3): Increases NAD+ levels, vital for energy production. Trials found it improved retinal responses and might slow disease progression.
-PQQ: Demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and improved mitochondrial activity in early studies.
-Homotaurine: Reduces harmful protein deposits linked to nerve damage and interacts with GABA receptors to calm overactive nerve signaling.
-Berberine: Natural plant compound that reduces inflammation and protects against excitotoxicity.
-GABA: Helps restore balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals in the retina, which can protect against further ne
rve injury.
Importantly, trials with combined therapies—such as citicoline plus CoQ10 or nicotinamide plus pyruvate—showed stronger improvements in vision, contrast sensitivity, and quality of life than any single treatment alone. These combinations did not reduce eye pressure but directly targeted the root causes of nerve death.
Why This Matters
This new multi-pronged approach could transform glaucoma care. By addressing not just pressure in the eye but also the underlying nerve damage, patients may have a better chance at slowing disease progression and preserving their vision for longer. However, researchers caution that more large-scale trials are needed to determine the best dosages, safety over long periods, and exact benefits in real-world use.
Conclusion
The study suggests that the future of glaucoma treatment lies in combining multiple neuroprotective compounds to target different disease mechanisms. If confirmed in larger clinical trials, this could reduce the burden of blindness worldwide. While traditional eye pressure control remains essential, these emerging therapies may soon provide an additional layer of protection and hope for millions living with glaucoma.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Clinical Medicine.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/17/6145
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/glaucoma-news
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