Caffeine pills aim to provide energy and improve alertness. These pills contain high doses of caffeine, and the stimulant might cause heart palpitations and tremors in your hands. You might feel anxious, urinate frequently or have an upset stomach. Caffeine intake through pills or dietary sources does not have a direct affect on your eyesight, but caffeine could contribute to conditions that cause blurry vision. Knowing these possible conditions and other causes of blurred vision might help you prevent a sight-threatening problem.
Dry Eye
Dry eye occurs when you do not have the appropriate amount of tears or if your tears do not have the necessary consistency to keep the surface of your eye nourished and lubricated. You might experience symptoms such as redness, scratchiness and burning sensations. Episodes of blurry vision that comes and goes also might occur with dry eye.
Caffeine use could lead to dehydration, a possible risk factor for dry eye. However, in a study conducted at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 2004, researchers found that, in adults ranging from ages 43 to 84, caffeine intake did not increase the risks for dry eye symptoms. This study did not evaluate younger groups or caffeine pills in particular, so you should talk to your doctor about the possible risks of dehydration and dry eye that might stem from using caffeine pills.
Eye Pressure
Inside the front section of your eyes you have a fluid that continuously enters and leaves your eye, and this process requires a balance of fluid to maintain the eye’s shape and eye pressure. If you have too much fluid in the front of your eye, it might increase your eye pressure, and this could damage the optic nerve at the back of your eye. This condition, known as glaucoma, occurs slowly, but ultimately will affect vision if left untreated.
The Glaucoma Research Foundation reports that high caffeine intake within a short duration might lead to spikes in eye pressure. Since caffeine pills contain a significant amount of caffeine, these products could lead to increased eye pressure. If you do not have glaucoma or risk factors for the disease, this might not affect your vision, but if you have glaucoma and use these pills frequently, it could have an effect on your disease process, leading to vision loss.
Other Causes
Changes in your vision could result from conditions that do not involve your caffeine intake. Eye problems such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts do not have a known connection to caffeine consumption, but these conditions can cause blurry vision. An eye infection or inflammation inside your eye also might cause vision changes, but these conditions do not stem from caffeine pills or other forms of caffeine consumption.
In many cases, gradual changes in vision might simply stem from the natural changes in the eye, indicating that you need an update in prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Considerations
Talk to your doctor before you use caffeine pills since these products could interfere with other health factors such as heart conditions. Your doctor will help you determine if you can safely use caffeine pills and the appropriate amount you should use.
If you experience any changes in your vision, contact your eye doctor immediately for an evaluation. Treating eye conditions promptly might help prevent further loss of vision.
References
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine in the Diet
- “Archives of Ophthalmology”; Incidence of Dry Eye in an Older Population; S. E. Moss, et al.; March 2004
- National Eye Institute: Facts About Dry Eye
- Glaucoma Research Foundation: Alternative Medicine
- MedlinePlus: Vision Problems
- American Optometric Association: Dry Eye
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