A groundbreaking clinical trial led by researchers at the Center for Eye Research Australia has shown that vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) could play an important role in protecting against nerve cell damage that leads to blindness in glaucoma. Results of the 57-patient trial, led by Jonathan Crowston, PhD, were published in July 2020 in Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. The study participants received oral placebo or nicotinamide and were reviewed every 6 weeks. Visual function was measured using electroretinography and perimetry. The main outcome measure was change in inner retinal function, determined by photopic negative response parameters.

The results showed improvement in the inner retinal function of glaucoma patients who received a daily high dose of 3 grams of nicotinamide for 12 weeks in addition to their regular treatment to reduce eye pressure. The researchers noted that a study is planned to determine whether the reported functional improvements are sustained long-term and associated with delayed glaucoma progression.