Alcohol and eye diseases: a review of epidemiologic studies.

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.