A moderate dosage of coffee causes acute retinal capillary perfusion decrease in healthy young individuals.

AIM: Caffeinated beverages are very popular across populations and cultures, but quantitative evidence of the acute effects of moderate coffee doses on retinal perfusion is sparse and contradicting. Thus, the aim of this randomized, cross-over and parallel-group design study was to investigate whether moderate consumption of coffee alters macular retinal capillary perfusion in young healthy individuals. METHODS: Twenty-seven young healthy individuals were recruited for this study. Acute changes in retinal microvasculature were assessed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD-OCTA) at baseline, 0.5 h, and 2 h after intake of coffee, or water. Meanwhile, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and retina-choroid blood flow were evaluated in a parallel-group design (4 participants each in coffee or water group) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling sequences. RESULTS: Two hours after coffee intake, blood caffeine concentration increased from 0 to 5.05 ± 1.36 µg/mL. Coffee caused a significant decrease in retinal vessel diameter index (VDI) (19.05 ± 0.24 versus [vs] 19.13 ± 0.26; p < 0.001) and CBF in the frontal lobe (77.47 ± 15.21 mL/100 mL/min vs. 84.13 ± 15.55 mL/100 mL/min; p < 0.05) 2 h after intake. However, it significantly increased retina-choroid blood flow after 0.5 and 2 h (163.18 ± 61.07 mL/100 mL/min vs. 132.68 ± 70.47 mL/100 mL/min, p < 0.001, and 161.21 ± 47.95 vs. 132.68 ± 70.47; p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate the acute effects of daily dose coffee consumption on retinal capillary perfusion using SD-OCTA combinate with blood flow MRI. The findings imply that although moderate coffee intake caused a significant increase in retina-choroid blood flow, there was a significant acute decrease both in macular retinal capillary perfusion and CBF.

Vision-related Quality of Life Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Advanced Glaucoma Patients.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate longitudinal postoperative vision-related quality of life and visual acuity changes after cataract surgery in advanced glaucoma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 93 patients who underwent cataract surgeries were collected from June 2010 through June 2013 in Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and were followed up for at least 3 months. Patients with advanced glaucoma, here defined as near total cupping of the optic nerve with severe visual field loss within 10 degrees of fixation, were enrolled. A standard phacoemulsification technique with the insertion of an intraocular lens was used. No complications occurred intraoperatively or postoperatively. Preoperative and 3-month postoperative vision-related quality of life were assessed in face-to-face interviews. The Chinese-version of the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (CLVQOL) was used. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the differences in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), weighted average LogMAR (WMAR), and CLVQOL scores. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the potential factors associated with the change in CLVQOL scores. RESULTS: The overall changes in the CLVQOL composite scores ranged between 4 and 42 (median=19). Statistically significant increases occurred in the composite scores of all of the subscales, the total CLVQOL, the BCVA in the surgery eye, and the WMAR (all P<0.001). Greater increases in the CLVQOL composite scores was associated with superior preoperative WMAR (odds ratio: 9.920, P<0.05), and age below 60 years (odds ratio: 9.905, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery should be recommended for advanced glaucoma patients with stable intraocular pressure.

The efficacy of low-energy selective laser trabeculoplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: to analyze the efficacy of low-energy selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: in 74 patients (74 eyes) with ocular hypertension, suspected glaucoma, or primary open-angle glaucoma, SLT was the first-choice treatment. Thirty-nine patients in the low-energy group received treatment using half of conventional laser energy over 360° of the trabecular meshwork (at 100 points). Thirty-five patients in the control group received conventional laser energy. Patients were observed for 1 year. Complications and intraocular pressure (IOP) were observed. RESULTS: postoperative transient IOP spike (≥ 3 mm Hg) occurred in three eyes on the day of treatment and partial peripheral anterior synechiae occurred in one eye 1 month after treatment only in the control group. Effective rates of treatment (≥ 20% IOP reduction) at week 2 and month 1, 3, 6, and 12 after treatment were 69.23%, 64.10%, 61.54%, 53.85%, and 48.72% in the low-energy group and 71.43%, 71.43%, 60%, 51.43%, and 48.57% in the control group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at various time points (P = .836, .501, .892, .835, .990). CONCLUSION: compared with SLT using conventional laser energy, low-energy SLT lowers IOP with fewer complications, making it a safe and effective option.