title: [Analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer in chronic tobacco and alcohol users].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer using GDx in chronic alcohol and tobacco users.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three chronic alcohol and tobacco users were studied (study group). As a control group, sixteen volunteers without use of alcohol and tobacco with similar characteristics (age, gender and race) were included. Both eyes were tested for analysis of the retinal nerve fiber layer with GDx.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was alteration in the Deviation from normal graph with a loss of nerve fibers in 43.4% of patients in the study group. In the control group this alteration was observed in 14 eyes (18.7%). As regards the parameters that allow comparison between the study and control groups there was a statistically significant difference regarding the following parameters: Ellipse modulation, Inferior ratio and Max modulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chronic use of tobacco and alcohol was associated with alteration of the nerve fiber layer. Thus, these results can contribute to the early diagnosis of nerve fiber layer loss in optic neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Fundacao Altino Ventura, Rua de Soledade 170, Boa Vista, CEP 50070-040 Recife, PE, Brazil. fav@fundacaoaltinoventura.org.br
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Ramos
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Silvio de Biase Siqueira
authors.initials: Sde B
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Hellmann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dantas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications*