A new genetics study has found that drinking instant coffee may significantly increase the risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. The study, published in the Wiley journal Food Science & Nutrition, involved hundreds of thousands of people and used genome-wide association studies to analyze the impact of coffee consumption on disease risk.
The researchers found no such risk with ground coffee, decaffeinated coffee, or total coffee consumption. They suggested that the perceived link between instant coffee and dry AMD risk may be due to processing byproducts, additives, or chemical alterations resulting from dehydration and reconstitution in soluble coffee production.
Dry AMD is estimated to affect nearly 200 million people globally and is expected to impact 290 million by 2040. The study’s findings suggest that high-risk groups should reduce their intake of instant coffee to minimize the risk of developing this form of the disease.
The authors noted several limitations, including the use of data primarily from European populations and a lack of detailed classification for coffee types beyond preparation method. Despite these limitations, the study provides guidance on instant coffee consumption and highlights the need to identify harmful components in other types of coffee.
Source: https://dailycoffeenews.com/2025/06/24/study-finds-link-between-instant-coffee-and-eye-disease-risk