Blinded by the Brew?

A recent genetic study, involving over 500,000 individuals, has raised eyebrows in the nutrition and eye-care communities.

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Researchers from Hubei University in China found that instant coffee consumption may be linked to a dramatically higher risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—a condition that robs central vision and is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in older adults.

According to the study published in Food Science & Nutrition, individuals genetically predisposed to prefer instant coffee had nearly sevenfold higher odds of developing dry AMD compared with those who favoured ground or decaffeinated coffee.

Though the analysis did not prove causation, the correlation is notable — and it held even when adjusting for other forms of coffee consumption, including brewed and decaf.

Experts suggest certain byproducts formed during instant coffee processing — such as acrylamide and oxidized lipids — could harm retinal cells via oxidative stress and inflammation, potentially accelerating macular damage over time.