Effect of Coffee Against Cataract Blindness

Post on February 16, 2016 by André Broussard, D.C.

February 16, 2016
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)

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  • The author evaluated the relationship between per capita coffee consumption, and, by extension, caffeine consumption, and the incidence of cataracts using data gathered from several global sources. He found a higher incidence of cataracts in parts of the world with lower consumption of coffee, as well as lower incidence of cataracts where coffee intake is high.
  • Coffee consumption may have a protective effect against cataract formation, and the author discusses the underlying mechanisms of this as well as other potential beneficial effects of caffeine.

Abstract

Previous biochemical and morphological studies with animal experiments have demonstrated that caffeine given topically or orally to certain experimental animal models has significant inhibitory effect on cataract formation. The present studies were undertaken to examine if there is a correlation between coffee drinking and incidence of cataract blindness in human beings. That has been found to be the case. Incidence of cataract blindness was found to be significantly lower in groups consuming higher amounts of coffee in comparison to the groups with lower coffee intake. Mechanistically, the caffeine effect could be multifactorial, involving its antioxidant as well as its bioenergetic effects on the lens.

Journal Reference

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