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Comment & Response
May 14, 2020

Questions on a Study on the Effects of Flavanol-Rich Dark Chocolate on Visual Function and Retinal Perfusion—Reply

Author Affiliations
  • 1University Eye Hospital Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2020;138(7):799-800. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.1493

In Reply We read with interest the letter to the editor by Rabin et al concerning our study. We would like to answer the questions raised.

First, the primary purpose of this study1 was to assess retinal perfusion after dark chocolate ingestion. As a secondary purpose, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were evaluated. We believe that a good study design relies on the incorporation of widely established, validated, and accepted experimental methods. The Pelli-Robson and the Mars charts are 2 examination methods that we believe fulfill these criteria most appropriately.2,3 Markedly fewer studies using small-letter contrast sensitivity have been published, which, in our opinion, may not be as valid to use.

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