[Impairment of safety in navigation caused by alcohol: pupillography and measurement of pupil movements].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate data in an interdisciplinary project (ophthalmology, forensic medicine, internal medicine, psychology,and nautical science) in order to identify critical blood alcohol limits in sea navigation.


METHODS
A sea traffic simulator was employed for realistic nautical demands on 21 professional experienced skippers under sober and alcoholized conditions (target blood alcohol concentration: 1.0 per thousand ). After simulated navigation, pupil light reflex, spontaneous pupil movements,nystagmus,and saccades were evaluated by pupillography. Modification of the pupillograph enabled us also to measure optokinetic nystagmus.


RESULTS
Evaluation of the pupil light reflex revealed obvious changes in the extent of relative contraction and in redilatation time under the influence of alcohol. Diminished vigilance could be observed in all of the skippers when optokinetic nystagmus was tested.


CONCLUSIONS
The pupillograph represents a suitable device for measuring functions of the visual and vegetative systems. Thus, the impact of these functions on nautical capability can be demonstrated. If further investigations such as ophthalmological, medical, psychological, and nautical evaluations are taken into account, it could be determined that blood alcohol levels of 1.0 per thousand may exclude safe navigation.
Universitätsaugenklinik, Kiel. jreichert@ophthalmol.uni-kiel.de
J A
JA
Reichelt
G
G
Grütters
S
S
Ritz-Timme
M
M
Grütters
H J
HJ
Kaatsch
D000059:Accidents; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D011681:Pupil Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000187:drug effects*; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects; D012449:Safety; D012767:Ships; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D000431:Ethanol