This study was performed to evaluate the effect of anthocyanoside and ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG), according to the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM).

A chart review of patients with normal tension glaucoma was retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent a Humphrey visual field (HVF) test and logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (log MAR BCVA) was measured over a 6 months period. Changes in mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD) of visual field and log MAR BCVA were compared among anthocyanoside, GBE and no medication (control) groups. Patients were divided according to the presence of DM.

A total of 406 NTG patients, including 151 DM patients, were included in the present study. MD was improved in the anthocyanoside and GBE groups, but not in the control group. PSD was not significantly different in all groups. BCVA was improved in the anthocyanoside group, but deteriorated in the control group. The results were similar in patients with or without DM. The generalized linear model demonstrated that systemic medication affected changes in visual indices.

The results from the present study suggest that anthocyanoside and GBE may be helpful for improving visual function in some patients with NTG regardless of their DM status.