High Levels of Caffeine May Increase the Risk of Glaucoma

Wednesday, September 29 2021 | 09 h 10 min | Vision Science

A new study suggests that consuming large amounts of caffeine may increase the risk of glaucoma for individuals with high genetic predisposition towards higher eye pressure. This new study led by researchers at Mount Sinai in New York was published in the journal Ophthalmology.

In this study, researchers used data from a large databased called the UK Biobank, and analyzed records from over 120,000 participants. These records included DNA (genetic data) questionnaires about lifestyle, including caffeine intake and eye health records. Using this information, researchers found that for most people, higher caffeine
intake did not lead to an increased risk of glaucoma. However, for individuals with the strongest genetic risk for developing higher intraocular pressure, consuming three or more cups of coffee a day increased the risk of developing glaucoma.

It should be noted that this increased risk was only seen in individuals with high genetic risk and at high levels of caffeine intake. The study suggests that people who are at high risk may want to moderate their caffeine intake.