The University of California team found a significant link between tea and glaucoma.
Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness, causes fluid pressure to build up inside the eye, damaging the optic nerve.
The scientists believe the antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatory chemicals in tea may play a role in protecting against this process.
They wrote: ‘Further research is needed to establish the importance of these findings and whether hot tea consumption may play a role in the prevention of glaucoma.’
British scientists last night welcomed the findings.
Professor Chris Hammond of King’s College London, said: ;These results are interesting and add to the increasing consensus that tea contains antioxidants and other compounds that are good for our health.
‘Glaucoma becomes more common with age, and is a significant cause of blindness in the UK.
