Citation

Hiratsuka Y, Li G. J. Stud. Alcohol 2001; 62(3): 397-402.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. yoshi-h@tkf.att.ne.jp

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11414350

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic evidence for the associations of alcohol consumption with eye diseases was gathered. METHOD: A literature review was conducted. RESULTS: In addition to alcohol-induced ocular anomalies among children with fetal alcohol syndrome, epidemiologic studies in the past two decades have demonstrated that chronic alcoholism is associated with a significantly increased risk of cataract, keratitis, color vision deficiencies and corneal arcus. Moderate alcohol use, however, has been reported to be possibly protective against age-related macular degeneration, cataract and diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: It is evident that through its biologic effects and effects on nutrient deficits alcohol plays a role in a variety of eye diseases. Information on the patient's drinking history can be clinically valuable and should be collected on a routine basis.

Language: en