Is There a Link Between Coffee and Your Eyesight?

While most ophthalmologists agree that drinking caffeine is fine in moderation, too much caffeine can cause eye problems. Some of these include blurred vision, light flashes, and tingling in the eyes.

If you experience these symptoms, make an appointment with your ophthalmologist to get checked. This will help ensure that your coffee consumption is not causing you any harm.

Chlorogenic acid

The main ingredient in raw coffee is chlorogenic acid, or CLA, and according to a recent study from Cornell University, drinking your morning cup of joe may prevent eyesight deterioration and blindness. This is mainly due to chlorogenic acid’s antioxidant properties, which may protect the retina from oxidative stress and degeneration caused by diseases like glaucoma, aging or diabetes.

The retina is the tissue on the back wall of the eye that receives and organizes visual information. It is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body and requires high levels of oxygen.

Chlorogenic acid has been shown to protect the retina from oxidative damage caused by nitric oxide, which is produced when blood vessels dilate and is known to degenerate the retina. The study also found that pretreatment with chlorogenic acid lowered the oxidative stress and free radicals created by nitric oxide in mice.

Caffeine

Whether you prefer a cup of coffee in the morning or a mug of tea before bed, the amount of caffeine you consume on a regular basis can impact your eye health. It may increase your blood sugar levels, which can result in blurred vision or sudden spasms of the eyelids.

However, the majority of ophthalmologist doctors in New York agree that caffeine should be consumed in moderation. Caffeine overdose can have several adverse effects, including a jittery feeling, insomnia and trouble concentrating.

Long-term consumption of caffeine may also increase your risk for glaucoma, which is a condition where your eye pressure is too high and damages the optic nerve.

It’s important to get a professional eye exam every year to ensure that there are no “silent” changes happening in your eyesight. Early detection of glaucoma and cataracts can prevent irreparable damage to your vision.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve, the part of your eye that sends information from the inside of your eye to the outside. The damage can lead to vision loss and even blindness.

Most people who have glaucoma don’t notice any symptoms and may go undiagnosed for years. But if you have it early enough, glaucoma can be treated to prevent permanent loss of vision.

One type of glaucoma, called pigmentary glaucoma, occurs when tiny deposits of a pigment-like material build up on the surface of your eye. These granules clog the drainage angle, which can cause an increase in pressure.

Other types of glaucoma include narrow-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. This condition happens when the drainage angle is too narrow, which can also lead to an increase in pressure. Symptoms can start suddenly with pain and rapid loss of vision. This kind of glaucoma is more common in people who are African American or Asian.

Cataracts

Cataracts develop when proteins in your eye lens clump together and interfere with how light enters your eye. This causes blurry vision, which can be hard to see in bright light or at night.

People with cataracts may also have a problem with their colour vision. Over time, a cataract’s “tinting” effect can make some hues look brown or yellowish. It can also make it harder to distinguish blues and purples.

This symptom can be a big problem when you are driving at night or trying to read in bright sunlight. Eventually, it can affect how you perceive all colours.

Several studies have found that drinking more tea or coffee, or substituting them for other beverages, can help reduce the risk of some kinds of cataracts. The effects of these substances might be partly due to their antioxidant effects. Specifically, tea and coffee alkaloids can prevent free radicals from damaging the lens. They also protect the lens from UV rays.