Effects of Topical Coenzyme Q10 on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Ganglion Cell Complex in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have shown that retinal ganglion cell apoptosis is of great importance in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. Coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) is a molecule used for its neuroprotective effect in the treatment of glaucoma. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of CQ10 and Vitamin E (Vit E) combination on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients by optical coherence tomography (OCT).
METHODS: In this retrospective study, thirty-one OAG patients with glaucoma in both eyes (intraocular pressure [IOP] <21 mmHg with medical treatment) were enrolled. Data of 28 patients were included in the study. At baseline and after 6 months, OCT parameters were obtained from patients treated with a combination of CQ10 and Vit E (CoQun ophthalmic drop twice daily) in addition to antiglaucomatous therapy in one eye (GC group); fellow eyes received antiglaucomatous therapy only (GT group).
RESULTS: IOP and OCT parameters were similar in both groups (p>0.05) at baseline. There was a significant increase in the average RNFL value at baseline and after 6 months of treatment in the GC group (p=0.045). In the GC group, the differences in the superior RNFL and the average RNFL values after 6 months were significantly greater than those recorded in the GT group (p=0.019, p=0.034, respectively).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In our study, we found a statistically significant effect of CQ10 on the RNFL. The combination of CQ10 and Vit E treatment can have beneficial effects on the RNFL in primary OAG patients.