ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND VISUAL CONTRAST SENSITIVITY

Visual contrast sensitivity (VCS) was measured in 30 alcoholic patient s and 52 controls. The results showed a significant reduction in VCS f or all the spatial frequencies. The mean reduction for all spatial fre quencies was 2.49 dB below the level of the control group. Optimal sen sitivity corresponded to a lower spatial frequency in patients than co ntrols, i.e. 1 cycle/degree (c/d) versus 2 c/d curves for VCS were nor mal for five patients. Abnormalities in VCS were suggestive of optic n erve dysfunction for 15 patients (50%), which were probable in seven c ases (23%) and possible in eight others (27%). For 10 subjects, the ab normalities were indicative of ametropia. Daily alcohol intake and dai ly tobacco consumption were not significantly different in the patient s who displayed VCS abnormalities, reflecting alcohol-tobacco amblyopi a, from those who did not. The presence of higher gamma-glutamyl trans peptidase and mean corpuscular volume levels in patients who had VCS a bnormalities indicative of alcohol-tobacco amblyopia suggests that alc ohol consumption is involved in the development of these abnormalities .