Nutritional Supplements and Performance During Visual Field Testing (B3 Vitamin)

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The most important test to detect progression is visual field testing. Visual field testing is the reference standard to measure visual function in glaucoma. It is called called standard automated perimetry (SAP). However, this test is very subjective, often unreliable, and variable. One of the main causes of unreliable tests is the lack of attentiveness or concentration during the test. Previous studies have shown that listening to Mozart or taking vitamin B12 can improve the reliability of this test. Recent studies have suggested that over-the-counter medications such as nicotinamide (vitamin B3) and pyruvate can also improve the performance during this test. This can ultimately reduce costs due to repeated testing and increase doctor's certainty when analyzing the results of this test.

Inclusion criteria

• Confirmed diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma;
• Visual field loss on 24-2 standard automated perimetry (SAP) worse than -3 decibels (dB) and better than -12 dB in both eyes;
• Best corrected visual acuity better than 20/40 in both eyes;
• Prior experience with 24-2 visual fields (at least 3 tests done in the past 3 years).

Exclusion criteria

• Significant cataract or media opacity;
• Diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer's, and other neurological diseases;
• Current use or use in the past 1 month of nutritional supplements;
• Inability to take or intolerance to nicotinamide and/or pyruvate.