Alcohol and eye diseases: a review of epidemiologic studies.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiologic evidence for the associations of alcohol consumption with eye diseases was gathered.


METHODS
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.
Hiratsuka
Y
Y
Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. yoshi-h@tkf.att.ne.jp
Li
G
G
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy