In the study, ophthalmologists PhD O.V. Guzun (Department of Studying Biological Action and Application of Lasers in Ophthalmology), PhD O.A. Peretyagin (Department of Glaucoma and Lens Pathology), PhD N.I. Khramenko (Department of Functional and Diagnostic Study), MD N.V. Konovalova (Department of Inflammatory Pathology of the Eye), PhD S.B. Slobodyanyk (Department of Functional and Diagnostic Study) from SI "The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine" investigated the feasibility of comprehensive neuroprotection using photobiomodulation combined with long-term administration of oral citicoline (250 mg) along with neurotropic vitamins (groups B, C, E, A) and zinc for 6 months in patients with normalized intraocular pressure (IOP) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

The prospective center-based non-interventional study included 82 patients (82 eyes) diagnosed with stage I-II POAG. The duration of the disease ranged from 6 months to 5 years, with an average age of 62.3 years. Patients were divided into two groups: the main group (Group 1) and the control group (Group 2). Both groups received standard traditional therapy, including anti-ischemic, trophic, and vascular treatments. Additionally, 44 patients (44 eyes) in the main group were recommended oral citicoline (250 mg) with neurotropic vitamins (B, C, E, A) and zinc once a day for 6 months. The baseline IOP before treatment and at all visits was 16.0 (15; 17) mmHg with a medicated hypotensive load of 1.0.

According to the results in the main group, after 6 months, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 11.4% higher than at the beginning of treatment. In the control group during this period, 24 patients (63%) had BCVA values similar to the baseline, while 8 patients (13%) had a decrease of 0.05 or more.

The relative risk of BCVA decline after 6 months in the main group, with comprehensive neuroprotective treatment, was 43% lower than in the control group.

The indicator of intraocular volumetric blood flow improved in both groups after 1 month. After 6 months, this indicator remained improved in 19 eyes (43.2%) in the main group and in 6 eyes (15.8%) in the control group. This increased the likelihood of stabilizing the improved intraocular blood flow by 49% in the comprehensive treatment group (RR=0.51±0.19 [95% CI 0.36; 0.74]).

The study demonstrated that comprehensive neuroprotection using photobiomodulation (FBM) and long-term administration of citicoline (250 mg) with neurotropic vitamins (B, C, E, A) and zinc in patients with normalized IOP and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) allows, over 6 months: improve BCVA by 21%, reduce the likelihood of BCVA deterioration by 43%, enhance volumetric intraocular blood flow by 24%, stabilize the glaucomatous process, improve patients’ quality of life.
For more details on the study, you can refer to the following link:

https://institut-filatova.com.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Tezy-FCh-2024.pdf