The invention relates to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, including saxagliptin and sitagliptin, for use in the topical eye treatment and/or prevention of retinal neurodegenerative diseases, in particulardiabetic retinopathyand its associated microvascular impairment. The invention also encompasses pharmaceutical topicaleyecompositions for use in the topicaltreatment and/or prevention of these diseases.