Coffee: A Boost for Vision Health and Macular Degeneration Prevention, Study Finds

Coffee may help improve vision and prevent macular degeneration, studies have found. (Shutterstock)

Text/Compiled by George Citroner/Zhang Yu

A recent study suggests that consuming a certain amount and quality of coffee may have beneficial effects on eye health. After all, how much coffee and what kind of coffee should you drink?

According to a study published in the journal Nutrients in 2023, researchers at the Australian Eye Research Center found that coffee and tea may be associated with retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the macula. This fibrous layer is made up of nerve cells that transmit visual information, and its thickness is an important indicator of the health of the macular region. The macula is a small area in the center of the retina that controls the sharpness of vision, color perception, and the ability to see fine detail.

Two cups of coffee a day boost eyesight

The study conducted a survey of more than 35,000 participants in the UK Biobank. The results showed that the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer in the macula was significantly increased in coffee drinkers, especially those who drank two to three cups of coffee per day. But it’s not just coffee that has this benefit. Drinking tea also significantly increases the thickness of the macular area, but only if you drink more than 4 cups of tea a day.

“Our findings suggest that if we consume two to three cups or more of tea beverages per day, the thickness of the macular area increases,” said lead researcher Lisa Zhuoting Zhu, Ph.D., of CERA’s Ophthalmic Epidemiology Team, in the paper.

Coffee quality is also poor!

Zhu Zhuoting emphasized that this study found that there is a healthy “sweet spot” (sweet spot, the most effective balance point) between coffee intake and the maintenance of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the macular area. “That means not too much coffee, not too little coffee — it’s best to drink the right amount of coffee,” she said, adding that the quality of the coffee may also be an important factor.

Many people like to drink instant coffee because of its convenience. However, she said, “many studies have shown that instant coffee may be a risk factor for many health problems, including the neurodegenerative diseases we identified in our study. It is better to drink good quality coffee.”

Dr. Rohan Arora, neurologist and director of the stroke program at Jewish Forest Hills Hospital on Long Island in North Wales, New York, told The Epoch Times that before you make a major change in your coffee or tea drinking habits, it is important to moderate Controlling and consulting a healthcare professional is crucial. “We need more research to confirm that high coffee and tea consumption has a significant impact on preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s,” he added. .

◎ Macular Neural Layer Thickness How to enhance eyesight?

Increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the macula has the following specific visual benefits:

Improve eyesight:A thicker macular nerve layer can help improve vision, which increases clarity and acuity.

Enhance contrast sensitivity:A thicker macular neural layer may improve contrast sensitivity, which may improve the ability of older adults to distinguish colors and distinguish differences between brightness levels.

Reduce the risk of macular degeneration:These common eye diseases can lead to blindness. A thicker macular nerve layer reduces our risk of macular degeneration. A thicker macular nerve layer can help protect the macula from damage and provide nutrients to retinal cells, preventing or delaying the onset of macular degeneration.