The Vitamin B3 in Glaucoma Study (VBIGS)

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, slowly and silently damaging the optic nerve and stealing peripheral vision. It cannot yet be cured, and while eye drops to lower pressure are the standard treatment, many patients continue to lose vision despite treatment. Researchers are urgently seeking new ways to protect the nerve cells in the eye. Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) has emerged as a promising neuroprotective supplement that may help maintain the health of optic nerve cells. Building on an earlier world-first trial that showed promising results, this Phase 3 study will test whether taking nicotinamide daily for two years slows the rate of vision loss in people with glaucoma, compared to a placebo. Visual field tests and eye imaging will be performed every 4 months. You may be eligible if you are an adult with diagnosed and treated primary open-angle glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma, or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma in both eyes, with moderate severity of visual field loss (specific measurement criteria apply), and adequate vision. People with significant liver disease, visually significant cataracts, or recent glaucoma surgery are not eligible.