Many people now have the habit of drinking coffee, especially in the morning when they are drowsy, having a cup of fragrant coffee will wake them up a lot. A large amount of scientific evidence shows that coffee (cause) has many health benefits, such as improving obesity and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, drinking coffee is also risky. A recent new study pointed out that excessive intake of caffeine may increase the risk of blindness caused by glaucoma!

“Glaucoma” is a comprehensive term used to describe a group of eye diseases. The common feature is that the optic nerve cannot withstand its own intraocular pressure (intraocular pressure elevated or within the normal range), causing varying degrees of damage, and resulting in corresponding visual field Loss and vision loss, eventually becoming blind.

What’s more frightening is that glaucoma is irreversible and will steal our vision unconsciously.

Three cups of coffee a day nearly quadruples risk of glaucoma

Recently, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the United States published an article in the journal Ophthalmology, the top journal of ophthalmology, proving for the first time the relationship between the eating habits of glaucoma patients and genetics. High daily caffeine intake in patients with a family history of glaucoma may more than triple their risk of developing glaucoma, the study pointed out.

The study conducted data analysis on the genetic samples of 121,347 participants in the UK Biobank (UK BioBank), the world’s most comprehensive large-scale human information repository, and measured their intraocular pressure (IOP). At the same time, dietary questionnaires were administered to 77,906 participants, allowing a robust assessment of the association between caffeine intake and intraocular pressure and glaucoma.

The results showed that, for the average person, high caffeine intake was not associated with an increase in overall eye pressure or an increased risk of glaucoma. In contrast, participants with higher intraocular pressure and a stronger genetic predisposition had higher caffeine intake, higher intraocular pressure and higher risk of glaucoma. The relevant data showed that for every 4 cups of coffee they drank, The intraocular pressure will be higher by 0.35 mm Hg.

People with a higher genetic risk score and a daily caffeine intake of more than 321 mg (equivalent to 3 cups of coffee) were less likely to develop glaucoma than those with a lower caffeine intake and a lower genetic risk score, the study found. The prevalence rate is 3.9 times higher.

Early detection of glaucoma by regular eye examinations over the age of 40

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness. In order to better protect eye health, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (American Academy of Ophthalmology) recommends that people aged 40 to 54 should have their eyes checked every 2 to 4 years; people aged 55 to 65 should have their eyes checked every 1 to 3 years Eyes; people over 65 should have their eyes checked every 1 to 2 years. Of course, people with risk factors for glaucoma should have more frequent comprehensive eye examinations, including intraocular pressure, visual field, etc.

Anthony Khawaja, MD, associate professor of ophthalmology at UCL and co-author of the report, said: “While we are not yet sure whether lifestyle changes, in this case lowering coffee intake, can reduce glaucoma risk, this latest study Our research has shown us a clear way that people with a high genetic risk of glaucoma may benefit from reducing their caffeine intake.”

In short, we still need to be alert to the damage caused by the “sight killer” glaucoma, and pay more attention to daily life and diet. We hope that scientists will continue to explore new ways to treat this disease and bring more hope to patients.