Treatment with citicoline eye drops enhances retinal function and neural conduction along the visual pathways in open angle glaucoma

Purpose: To evaluate the retinal function and the neural conduction along the visual pathways after treatment with citicoline eye drops in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG). Methods: Fifty-six OAG patients (mean age 52.4 ± 4.72 years, IOP 0.01) PERG and VEP values in GC and GP eyes were observed. After treatment with topical citicoline, a significant (p <0.01) increase of PERG P50-N95 and VEP N75-P100 amplitudes, and a significant (p <0.01) shortening of VEP P100 implicit times were found. In GC eyes, the shortening of VEP P100 implicit times was correlated significantly (p <0.01) with the increase of PERG P50-N95 amplitudes. After a 2-month period of topical Citicoline wash-out, PERG and VEP values were similar (p > 0.01) to baseline ones. GP eyes showed not significant changes of PERG and VEP values during the entire follow-up. Conclusions: Topical treatment with citicoline in OAG eyes induces an enhancement of the retinal bioelectrical responses (increase of PERG amplitude) with a consequent improvement of the bioelectrical activity of the visual cortex (shortening and increase of VEP implicit time and amplitude, respectively).