Elsevier

Neurotoxicology and Teratology

Volume 10, Issue 3, May–June 1988, Pages 255-260
Neurotoxicology and Teratology

Article
Colour vision impairment and alcohol consumption

https://doi.org/10.1016/0892-0362(88)90025-6Get rights and content

Abstract

The relationship between alcohol intake and colour discrimination capacity was examined among 136 persons of whom 16 were undergoing treatment in a detoxification centre. Current weekly alcohol consumption (or prior to treatment for those in the centre) was obtained with a detailed questionnaire, which divided week and weekend drinking into types of alcohol (beer, wine, spirits). Alcohol consumption varied from 0–5824 g/week; median: 266 g/week. Qualitative and quantitative assessment of acquired dyschromatopsia was obtained with a colour arrangement test, the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel. In all age categories, the prevalence of dyschromatopsia increased with alcohol intake. Moreover, all the heavy drinkers (>751 g/week) presented a certain degree of dyschromatopsia, whether or not they were undergoing treatment for alcoholism in a detoxification centre. Colour loss was primarily in the blue-yellow range; however, 4 of the 16 persons from the detoxification centre presented complex dyschromatopsic patterns including red-green loss. This raises the question of possible progressive deterioration. Multiple regression analysis showed that colour vision loss was significantly related to both age (p<0.001) and alcohol intake (p<0.01). These results underline the importance of taking into account the contribution of alcohol consumption in studies on acquired dyschromatopsia.

References (42)

  • R. Cruz-Coke

    Defective colour vision and alcoholism

    Mod Probl Ophthalmol

    (1972)
  • A. Dubois-Poulsen et al.

    Le Farnswoth D-15 désatureé

    Bull Soc Ophtalmol Fr

    (1973)
  • P.J. Fialkow et al.

    Lack of association between cirrhosis and the common types of colour blindness

    N Engl J Med

    (1966)
  • J.P. Gerhard

    Les altérations du sens chromatique chez l'ethylique

    Rev Otoneuroophtalmol

    (1981)
  • W.M. Grant

    Toxicology of the Eye

    (1974)
  • W.M. Grant

    The peripheral visual system as a target

  • J. Helve et al.

    The influence of age on the Panel D-15 colour vision test

    J Opt Soc Am

    (1972)
  • J.M. Horan et al.

    Neurological dysfunction from exposure to 2-t-butylazo-2-hydroxy-5-methyhexane (BHMH): a new occupational neuropathy

    Am J Public Health

    (1985)
  • P.R. Kinnear et al.

    The diabetic eye and colour vision

    Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK

    (1972)
  • P. Lanthony

    The desaturated panel D-15

    Doc Ophthalmol

    (1978)
  • J. Levett et al.

    The effect of alcohol on retinal potentials, eye movements, accomodation and the pupillary reflex

  • Cited by (0)

    1

    Affiliated to the Québec Institute for Research in Occupational Safety and Health.

    View full text