Purpose:
The aim of this study was to determine the association between caffeine intake and dry eye disease (DED) in the large, population-based LifeLines cohort in the Netherlands.
Methods:
DED was cross-sectionally assessed in 85,302 participants (59% female participants) using the Women’s Health Study dry eye questionnaire. Dietary caffeine was calculated from the intake of coffee, tea, cola, and energy drinks. Logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between DED and caffeine, correcting for demographic variables, smoking status, alcohol intake, and 48 comorbidities of DED.
Results:
The mean (SD; range) age of participants was 50.7 years (12.4; 18–96), and 50,339 (59%) were female. The mean (SD) caffeine intake was 285 (182) mg/d. After correcting for demographics, body mass index, smoking status, and alcohol intake, higher caffeine intake was associated with a decreased risk of Women’s Health Study-defined DED [odds ratio (OR) 0.971 per 100 mg/d, 95% CI, 0.956–0.986, P