Purpose
The aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of flavonoids catechine and epicatechine ot visual function, contrast sensitivity and retinal perfusion.
Methods
It’s a prospective cohort study. A total of 30 patients are subdivided into two cohorts. Group A: patients with no ophthalmic pathology and, Group B: patients with neovascular age‐related macular degeneration /nAMD/. We performed a full ophthalmic examination /best corrected visual acuity for distance and near, assessment of contrast sensitivity – Pelli Robson test, tonometry, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and optic coherence tomography – angiography OCT‐A/ before and two hours after consumption of 50 g dark chocolate with 100% cocoa content.
Results
Results of all the exams /visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, OCT‐A indexes for retinal perfusion/ are statistically processed.
Conclusions
High content of flavonoids catechine and epicatechine in dark chocolate has beneficial impact on visual function, contrast sensitivity and retinal perfusion I Group A and Group B, with slight variation between two groups.