Coffee in Ophthalmology

[Titus345]

This may seem like a bit of a random question, but I am just curious. Do many of the ophthalmologists on this forum drink coffee? I was thinking that because of the microsurgery aspect of the specialty that surgeons may be dissuaded from drinking caffeine due to tremors/shaking not normally noticed in everyday life but may have been seen during your training. Have you heard of anyone experiencing this/this being a problem?

I am an incoming M1 and am very interested in ophthalmology (also an avid coffee drinker). Obviously, if necessary I could eliminate coffee from my routine. Just wanted to see what others had to say!

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[cubsrule4e]

Just dont drink it before you operate. Not a coffee drinker, but Ill have a Monster energy once or twice a week.

 

[MstaKing10]

One cup, every day, including OR day. Have titrated to this. If I drink more or less it’s a problem. I did stop for a year but didn’t make any difference.

 

[airplanes]

I drink coffee every morning, OR or not, otherwise I get a headache. I’m fortunate it doesn’t seem to affect my hands much or make my microtremor worse.

Everyone has a micro tremor which can vary in amplitude. I have friends that avoid caffeine before operating, friends that wait until after their phacos are done and before their glaucoma surgeries (lol) and friends that avoid it and take a drop of sublingual timolol or a low dose oral beta blocker.

Everyone figures out an approach to make it work, but you probably won’t know until the time comes to start operating for real.

 

[Eyelovesurgery]

I drink coffee every day....but I am a sipper. One small cup lasts me all day. I drink coffee on OR days and don't find that it makes me have a tremor. I am more alert and ready for surgery even after 2-3 sips. As above, I feel fortunate that this hasn't been a problem.

 

[Slide]

This may seem like a bit of a random question, but I am just curious. Do many of the ophthalmologists on this forum drink coffee? I was thinking that because of the microsurgery aspect of the specialty that surgeons may be dissuaded from drinking caffeine due to tremors/shaking not normally noticed in everyday life but may have been seen during your training. Have you heard of anyone experiencing this/this being a problem?

I am an incoming M1 and am very interested in ophthalmology (also an avid coffee drinker). Obviously, if necessary I could eliminate coffee from my routine. Just wanted to see what others had to say!

Not a dumb or random question. Lots of senior residents and fellows struggle with this at first. I had to initially cut back severely when starting to peel ILMs. I now only drink half the amount on surgical days where I have to peel ILMs/membranes. Everyone is different regarding coffee tolerance and physical tremors. To me I've realized it's more a confidence issue; when you feel confident under the microscope, your tremor is minimal and can be managed. When you are nervous, caffeine and stress will amplify it. Drinking several energy drinks or cups prior to coffee will obvious exasperate things but in the end coffee is not a big deal prior.

 

[JMK2005]

i drink coffee daily but not on OR days. little things makes a difference for me. i wore contacts daily but had to stop due to eye irritation. the switch from contacts to glasses took a few cases to adjust. other collegues can do whatever and still ok.

 

[Cdnophthalresident]

Am in residency, but noticed more in the simulator and micro-surgery/suturing that I have a small tremor with one cup in the morning.
I would not drink it regularly and before OR days/on call.

 

[WhatNEyeTem]

I usually drink some caffeine around the mid-point of my OR day. Otherwise, I start to get a caffeine withdrawal headache. By that time, my confidence is super high and muscle memory has kicked in, so I have much less tremor.

 

[Equality]

I take PO propranolol or sublingual timolol before microsurgery.