Study: Moderate caffeine intake may improve surgical performance

FLORENCE, Italy — A moderate intake of caffeine enhances performance in retina microsurgery, according to a poster presented at the FLOREtina meeting by a group of retina surgeons from Mexico City. Using a microsurgical simulator, the effects of caffeine on the performance of experienced retina surgeons were evaluated. Under usual conditions on a random day, each surgeon underwent a test on a baseline simulator level (anti-tremor test and ILM peeling level 1) to get acquainted with the machine. A week later, the same surgeons underwent the same test at a higher level (anti-tremor and ILM peeling level 4) before and 40 minutes after consumption of 200 mg of caffeine. Both surgical performances were measured by the same masked technician, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured.