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Effects of caffeine intake on the biomechanical properties of the cornea: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study in low caffeine consumers

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the short-term effects of caffeine intake on the biomechanical properties of the cornea, as well as its possible association with the intraocular pressure (IOP), as measured by corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (CorVis ST) in healthy subjects.

Methods

Twenty-two low caffeine consumers ingested either a caffeine (4 mg/Kg) or placebo capsule in two separate sessions. IOP and corneal biomechanics parameters, including time, velocity, length, and deformation amplitude at the first applanation (A1T, A1V, A1L, and A1D, respectively); time, velocity, length, and deformation amplitude at the second applanation (A2T, A2V, A2L, and A2D, respectively); time at the highest concavity (HCT), radius curvature at the highest concavity (HCR), deformation amplitude at the highest concavity (HCDA), and peak distance (PD), were measured with the Corvis ST before and after 30 min, 60 min, and 90 min of caffeine/placebo intake.

Results

Caffeine intake reduced the corneal deformability, inducing significant changes in A1T, A2V, A2T, HCDA, HCT, and PD (all p values < 0.05). Non-corrected and biomechanically corrected IOP values were higher after caffeine intake (p = 0.001 and 0.033, respectively). Also, the changes in IOP after caffeine intake were positively associated with A1T (r = 0.790 to 0.962), and negatively associated with A2T (r = − 0.230 to − 0.722) and PD (r = − 0.506 to − 0.644).

Conclusions

Caffeine intake reduces the corneal deformability, with these changes being partially associated with the IOP rise. These findings evidence that exogenous factors such as caffeine intake should be taken into consideration when making clinical decisions that are based on the biomechanical properties of the cornea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Optics, University of Granada, Campus de la Fuentenueva 2, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Raimundo Jiménez, Rubén Molina, Beatriz Redondo & Jesús Vera

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  1. Raimundo Jiménez
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  2. Rubén Molina
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  3. Beatriz Redondo
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  4. Jesús Vera
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Correspondence to Beatriz Redondo.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Granada Institutional Review Board (IRB approval: 438/CEIH/2017) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Jiménez, R., Molina, R., Redondo, B. et al. Effects of caffeine intake on the biomechanical properties of the cornea: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study in low caffeine consumers. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 258, 2449–2458 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-020-04835-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-020-04835-0

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