European Nutrition in Glaucoma Management Trial

This is a research study looking at the effects of dietary MP supplementation in glaucoma patients. Glaucoma can cause irreversible visual impairment. Current treatment modalities only halt disease progression and do not improve visual function. It is important to understand that poor visual function can have major consequences to an individual's day-to-day tasks such as increased risk of falls and automobile accidents.

Disability glare is commonly experienced by eye disease patients, including those with glaucoma, and has been shown to be present even in those who are mildly affected by the disease. MP is a blue-light filter that plays an important role in visual performance including glare sensitivity. Moreover, MP is a potent antioxidant, and it is widely known that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, both at the level of retinal ganglion cells and trabecular meshwork.

Glaucoma and cognitive decline are both neurodegenerative processes that share several antecedents. The clustering of degenerative disorders towards the end of life is thought to be the result of cumulative and lifelong oxidative injury, and is consistent with the free radical theory of aging. Observational studies have revealed links between the two conditions. The commonalities between glaucoma and cognitive decline, including their shared risk factor profile and pathophysiological pathways, suggest a role for exploring common mechanisms and perhaps even a shared therapeutic approach.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary MP supplementation on MP levels, serum biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, vision, retinal structure and cognition in glaucoma patients.

Study design 64 glaucoma participants Treatment arm: 10 mg Lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin, 10 mg meso-zeaxanthin - 2/3 Placebo arm: Identical capsule containing no active ingredients - 1/3 Duration of intervention: 18 months

At baseline, all glaucoma participants undergo detailed vision assessments including visual acuity, microperimetry, measurement of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) with dual-wavelength fundus autofluorescence technique, optical coherence tomography scans, contrast sensitivity testing with and without glare, photostress recovery time, pupil reaction assessment, lens fluorescence measurement and fill out vision-related and dietary questionnaires. Patients also undergo detailed cognitive assessment including the flanker task, sound-induced flash illusions task, verbal fluency (FAS and animal fluency tests), SKT (short cognitive assessment) and MMSE (mini-mental state examination) tests which provide measures of reaction time, short-term memory, multisensory integration and attention. A blood sample is also collected for analysis of oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers.

After the baseline assessments, glaucoma participants are randomised (2:1) to receive a dietary MP supplementation or placebo for 6 months. Each daily dose of the supplement contains 10mg Lutein, 10mg meso-Zeaxanthin and 2mg Zeaxanthin in a softgel capsule. The intervention consists of a daily oral consumption of one softgel capsule (recommended to be consumed with food) for a period of 18 months, with patients compliance checks and re-supply of supplement every 6 months. The placebo looks identical to the active supplement in its preparation size, colour, smell and taste. It contains no active ingredients.

Inclusion criteria

• Open-angle glaucoma patients aged 18 years or older

• Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG)
• Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG)
• Pseudoexfoliative glaucoma
• Pigment dispersion glaucoma
• Best corrected visual acuity of better than 6/12 in the study eye (logMAR <0.3)
• Either gender
• Able to give informed consent, make the required study follow-up visits and adhere to trial protocol

Exclusion criteria

• Underlying ocular disease such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or moderate to significant cataract (patients with established cataract who are likely to progress)
• Best corrected visual acuity of worse than 6/12 in the study eye (logMAR > 0.3)
• History of diabetes mellitus, any type of dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's has been shown to be associated with lower macular pigment levels) or other significant systemic condition that might affect capacity to complete the trial
• MMSE score < 26
• Individuals taking dietary macular pigment supplements (containing lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin, such as MacuShield, Ocuvite Lutein/Complete, I-Caps etc.) in the past 6 months