The Relationship between Caffeine and Coffee Consumption and Exfoliation Glaucoma or Glaucoma Suspect: A Prospective Study in Two Cohorts

Abstract

PURPOSE. We examined the association between caffeine and caffeinated beverage consumption in relation to the risk of exfoliation glaucoma or exfoliation glaucoma suspect (EG/ EGS). METHODS.We followed 78,977 women from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and 41,202 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) who were at least 40 years of age, did not have glaucoma, and reported undergoing eye examinations from 1980 (NHS) or 1986 (HPFS) to 2008. Information on consumption of caffeine-containing beverages and potential confounders were repeatedly ascertained in validated followup questionnaires. Confirmation with medical record review revealed 360 incident EG/EGS cases. Multivariate rate ratios (RRs) for EG/EGS were calculated in each cohort and then pooled using meta-analytic techniques.RESULTS. Compared with participants whose cumulatively updated total caffeine consumption was <125 mg/day, participants who consumed ‡500 mg/day had a trend toward increased risk of EG/EGS that was not statistically significant (RR ¼ 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-2.08); P trend ¼ 0.06). Compared to abstainers, those who drank ‡3 cups of caffeinated coffee daily were at increased risk of EG/EGS (RR ¼ 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09-2.54; P trend ¼ 0.02). These results were not materially altered after adjustment for total fluid intake. Associations were stronger among women with a family history of glaucoma (P interaction ¼ 0.06 for coffee; P interaction ¼ 0.03 for caffeine). We did not find associations with consumption of other caffeinated products (caffeinated soda, caffeinated tea, decaffeinated coffee or chocolate) and risk of EG/EGS (P trend ‡0.31).CONCLUSIONS. We observed a positive association between heavier coffee consumption with risk of EG/EGS in this large prospective study. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:6427-6433)

Cataract Surgery in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

“…3 A study by Pasquale et al also demonstrates that increased caffeinated coffee consumption also correlates with an increased risk of developing PXF (p trend = 0.02). 4 Within the eye, PXF material is found on the lens epithelium and lens capsule, iris pigment epithelium, iris stroma and iris blood vessels, pupillary margin, zonular fibers, ciliary processes, trabecular meshwork, and the corneal endothelium. 4,5 Pseudoexfolation syndrome can present unilaterally or bilaterally and is associated with open and narrow angle glaucomas and the formation of cataracts.…”

“…4 Within the eye, PXF material is found on the lens epithelium and lens capsule, iris pigment epithelium, iris stroma and iris blood vessels, pupillary margin, zonular fibers, ciliary processes, trabecular meshwork, and the corneal endothelium. 4,5 Pseudoexfolation syndrome can present unilaterally or bilaterally and is associated with open and narrow angle glaucomas and the formation of cataracts. [6][7][8] It is thought that alterations in the iris vasculature and blood-aqueous barrier could affect the composition of the aqueous, which could thus affect lens metabolism, resulting in earlier cataract formation.…”

Frequency of a diagnosis of glaucoma in individuals who consume coffee, tea and/or soft drinks

“…The proposed mechanism of caffeine-induced increase in IOP based on animal models is increased aqueous humour production and transport via the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium 26. Aside from possible effects on increasing IOP, coffee may increase plasma and aqueous homocysteine levels, which have been linked to the development of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma but not normal-tension glaucoma 8. By contrast, other studies suggest that chlorogenic acid in coffee may play a protective role by preventing hypoxia-related retinal degeneration and glutamate neurotoxicity 9.…”

Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine and A_2A Receptor Antagonists in Retinal Diseases

“…Also, the choroid-retinal blood flow was described to be decreased after caffeine administration [60]. A prospective cohort study demonstrated that caffeine consumption is not associated with a risk of developing glaucoma [61], while others reported that long-term average consumption of caffeinated coffee increases the risk of glaucoma [62]. …”