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Visual functions and acute ingestion of alcohol
1National Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research, Oslo, Norway.
Summary
This study found that alcohol impairs vision. Even low blood alcohol levels (0.05%) affected contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity, and binocular vision, while higher levels (0.1%) impacted visual acuity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Alcohol consumption is known to affect cognitive and motor functions.
- The specific impact of varying blood alcohol concentrations (BrAC) on visual performance requires detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the effects of controlled alcohol intoxication on various visual functions in healthy men.
- To determine the threshold BrAC levels at which specific visual parameters are significantly impaired.
Main Methods:
- A placebo-controlled experiment was conducted with 22 healthy male participants.
- Participants were exposed to three BrAC levels: 0.0% (placebo), 0.05%, and 0.1%.
- Visual acuity, stereoacuity, contrast sensitivity, accommodation, and binocular vision were assessed at each BrAC level.
Main Results:
- Accommodation and resting focus of accommodation remained unaffected across all BrAC levels.
- Visual acuity and refraction were significantly impaired only at 0.1% BrAC.
- Contrast sensitivity (higher spatial frequencies), stereoacuity, and binocular vision were significantly affected at both 0.05% and 0.1% BrAC.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol consumption, even at moderate BrAC levels (0.05%), demonstrably impairs key visual functions beyond simple acuity.
- These findings highlight the risk associated with alcohol use, even at levels below the legal driving limit, for tasks requiring precise visual processing.