NAD metabolism and eye diseases: current status and future directions.

Currently, there are no truly effective treatments for a variety of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). These conditions have a significant impact on patients' quality of life and can be a burden on society. However, these diseases share a common pathological process of NAD metabolism disorders. They are either associated with genetically induced primary NAD synthase deficiency, decreased NAD levels due to aging, or enhanced NAD consuming enzyme activity during disease pathology. In this discussion, we explore the role of NAD metabolic disorders in the development of associated ocular diseases and the potential advantages and disadvantages of various methods to increase NAD levels. It is essential to carefully evaluate the possible adverse effects of these methods and conduct a more comprehensive and objective assessment of their function before considering their use.