Effects of alcohol consumption on visual performance

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is on the rise in developing countries like India. Alcohol enters the blood stream and gets distributed throughout the body and exerts its effects on several organ systems of the body. 100 male subjects were included in the study out of which 50 were grouped as controls who did not consume alcohol and 50 were cases who ingested alcohol. Examination was done to measure blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, visual acuity and intraocular pressure. Alcohol has a negative impact on the eye leading to a decrease in the visual performance and interference in daily tasks by decreasing the visual acuity and decreasing the intraocular pressure. It also exerts general effects on the body causing hypertension and dyspnea.