Glaucoma earns its “silent thief of sight” nickname because it often damages the optic nerve without warning, but a new study in JAMA Ophthalmology suggests nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, might help keep it at bay. Tracking nearly 3,000 people with ocular hypertension over 3.7 years, researchers found nicotinamide users had a 66% lower risk of developing glaucoma, just 3.5% versus 9% among nonusers, and were also less likely to need eye drops or laser treatment. The theory is that glaucoma is really a metabolic disease, tied to age-related drops in a coenzyme that keeps retinal cells energized, and nicotinamide helps replenish it. It’s not a replacement for standard care, and this was an observational study, so bigger trials are needed before it becomes a go-to recommendation, but it’s a promising lead worth watching.
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