Vitamin B: A New Ally Against Glaucoma

Glaucoma affects nearly 700,000 individuals in the UK, resulting from an abnormality in the eye’s drainage system. This defect leads to fluid accumulation, increasing pressure on the optic nerve. Primarily impacting older adults and those genetically predisposed, glaucoma can cause blurred vision and even blindness if left untreated. Typically, it is managed by reducing eye pressure via drops, surgery, or laser treatments.

Researchers administered supplements of vitamins B6, B9, and B12 to rodents suffering from glaucoma. In rats with a severe form, the progression of optic nerve damage was significantly slowed. Remarkably, in mice with a slower onset of the disease, the damage was completely halted.

Scientists postulate that the increased eye pressure could alter the retina’s vitamin utilization, vital for maintaining healthy vision. Dr. James Tribble from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, who led the study, remarked, “The results are so promising that we’ve initiated a clinical trial and are currently recruiting patients.”

Previously, a 2019 study indicated that vitamin B3 might also prevent glaucoma. Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory in Maine, US, added B3 to the water of mice genetically inclined to develop the condition, which helped maintain their eye health longer than those on plain water.