Oral citicoline: influence of long-term therapy on perimetric glaucoma defects

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is characterized by a gradual loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Visual impairment ranges from visual field defects to blindness. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the primary risk factor for POAG progression. However, recent studies suggest that therapy cannot be limited to IOP lowering alone. In fact, despite adequate IOP control, the disease still progresses in a percentage of patients [3]. In these, vascular or mechanical neurodegenerative processes are likely responsible. Therefore, the current trend is to prescribe molecules capable of inhibiting RGCs apoptosis. Citicoline, also known as choline CDP, is an endogenous organic neuroprotective molecule and acts as an intermediary in phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Growing evidence suggests that it stimulates neural cell metabolism, inhibits phospholipids degradation, and possibly even apoptosis. For this purpose, authors performed a retrospective study to explore the effect of citicoline supplementation on visual field defects progression.