Citicoline (Cdp-Choline) for Eye Health

Research suggests that citicoline may offer neuroprotective benefits for eye health, particularly in glaucoma, by supporting retinal ganglion cell survival, improving electrical signal transmission along visual pathways, and addressing neurodegenerative processes that standard pressure-lowering treatments do not target. The evidence base includes multiple narrative and systematic reviews, a 2023 pooled analysis of ten clinical studies, a 2025 randomized double-blind trial, and preclinical animal research, with the large majority of sources reporting favorable trends in visual function, retinal structure, and neural pathway integrity after roughly one year of use. However, the evidence is notably mixed — the 2023 systematic review pooling data from 424 patients found no statistically significant improvements across key glaucoma measures compared to controls, and multiple reviews acknowledge that existing trials are generally small, methodologically inconsistent, and insufficient to support definitive clinical recommendations. Studies indicate that citicoline holds promise as a complementary approach alongside conventional glaucoma therapy, but larger and more rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are still needed before conclusions about its effectiveness can be drawn with confidence.