Tobacco-Alcohol Amblyopia

Ethanol Consumption Alters Electroretinograms and Depletes Neural Tissues of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Rhesus Monkeys: Nutritional Consequences of a Low n‐3 Fatty Acid Diet

“…Although it has been a longheld view that the syndrome known as alcohol amblyopia is associated with specific nutritional deficiencies (Carroll, 1944(Carroll, ,1966Dreyfus, 1965;Victor and Dreyfus 1965;Woon et al, 1995), other investigators have suggested that chronic alcohol consumption alone may be a direct cause of this pathology (Krumsiek et al, 1985a,b). Several therapeutic regimens have focused on administering B-vitamin complexes (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and hydroxycobalamin) (Carroll, 1966;Dreyfus, 1965) or folic acid (Dang, 1981) supplements to patients.…”

“…A LCOHOL AMBLYOPIA IS a progressive neuropathy occurring in chronic alcohol abusers at a frequency of about 0.5% (Carroll, 1944(Carroll, ,1966Dang, 1981;Victor et al, 1965). It is characterized by the development of blurred vision and reduction in visual acuity, which may be accompanied by a peripheral neuropathy (Victor et al, 1965).…”

“…It is characterized by the development of blurred vision and reduction in visual acuity, which may be accompanied by a peripheral neuropathy (Victor et al, 1965). Although the exact etiology in the development of the pathology is unknown, a nutrient insufficiency possibly related to years of alcohol abuse is thought to be a major factor in the progression of this disorder (Carroll, 1966;Dreyfus, 1965;Woon et al, 1995).…”

The relationship between serum trace element changes and visual function in heavy smokers

“…Subjects who reported any cessation of smoking in the preceding 10 years were also excluded from the study. We deliberately chose young, healthy, heavy smokers who maintained an adequate diet and had no history of alcohol consumption in order to rule out the effects of alcoholism and malnutrition (Victor & Dreyfus 1965).…”

Whole blood cyanide levels in patients with tobacco amblyopia.

“…34 Pathological studies have described areas of demyelination in the optic nerves adjacent to the nerve head, affecting the papillo-macular bundle.5 In advanced cases the surrounding nerve fibres are also involved leading to destruction of the axis cylinders and secondary degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells. 6 Patients with tobacco amblyopia have usually smoked heavily for many years before the onset of visual symptoms, and visual failure often develops with the occurrence of intercurrent disease. Many patients also drink heavily, and the condition has been designated tobacco/alcohol amblyopia.6-8 Two principle mechanisms have been proposed for its causation: firstly, nutritional deficiencies particularly of thiamine and vitamin B12;6-'0 and secondly, the toxic effect of the cyanide constituent of tobacco smoke.'"…”