About a month ago, I started to notice that I was experiencing muscle spasms in one of my eyes. This was happening in my dominant eye, so when the spasms occur, it is very noticeable. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, but when it started happening on a daily basis, I began to wonder if something else was wrong. The final push that made me visit my eye doctor was that a few times a week, when I was working late at night on my computer (yes, that is a regular thing in my life as an entrepreneur who works from home), I began experiencing fuzziness in that same eye. It’s hard to explain, but the way that I described it to my eye doctor was it is like when you tv isn’t working and you get the black and white fuzz (some people call it snow), but much finer.

The doctor did a series of tests on my eyes as well as asked me many questions. She came to two conclusions: one, that I am likely experiencing ocular migraines and two, my eyes are dry and I need to significantly cut down on my caffeine intake. WHAT?! Did she say that? Yes, she did. I need to SIGNIFICANTLY reduce my caffeine intake, which is translated to: Amanda, you need to quite your coffee addiction.

That wasn’t great news, but I will be honest, as much as I love my coffee, I love my eye sight WAY more and the news could have been much, much worse. I am so grateful for my vision (especially in my dominant eye, as my non-dominant eye is quite weak). This experience made me stop and reflect upon just how important our vision is and how grateful I am that I have vision.

Am I sad about having to cut back on coffee? Of course I am. Coffee has become my vice. As my husband jokes (or is he joking?!): coffee is my “happy juice”.

BUT, I have found a few delicious and healthier options including homemade brewed iced tea as well as Orange Naturals Magpop. I have shared with you before the potential benefits of magnesium and while I enjoy water, I have been told that I need to enjoy it a whole lot more in order to hydrate my eyes. SO, when thinking about different ways that I can consume more water, I automatically thought of Magpop as it is a delicious drink that has health benefits too.

Coffee drinking was a habit, so I am now creating new habits for myself. One of those habits will be to always have brewed iced tea in the fridge (the herbal variety so there is NO caffiene) and each afternoon when I experience that early afternoon “slump”, I will now be drinking Magpop.

Now that you know that caffeine intake is directly related to eye health, will you be decreasing your caffeine?

Please note that I am definitely NOT a physician. I am simply sharing my personal story with you. If you have any concerns about your eye health, please visit your family doctor or eye doctor.