We all know that alcohol impairs judgment and coordination
and slows reaction time.
But here is yet another reason to cut back on your alcohol
consumption: A study coming out of the University of Grenada has shown that
overconsumption can also adversely affect your night vision. The study examined
67 subjects who had consumed various quantities of wine. The researchers used a
“halometer” visual test to determine the level of night vision disturbances and
optical image quality. What they found was that the greater the breath alcohol
content level, the greater the visual disturbance.
Why Alcohol Affects
Vision
Alcohol disturbs the tear film that covers the surface of
the eye. The ethanol (intoxicating agent) present in alcoholic drinks disturbs
the outer tear film layer, causing the aqueous part of the tear to evaporate. When
tear film is disturbed, the image quality that forms on the retina is also
negatively affected, leading to the presence of halos and other visual
disturbances in night vision.
Pre-existing Vision
Conditions
Now add into the equation a pre-existing vision condition,
such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. If your vision is
already impaired due to a refractive error and you consume alcohol, the tear
film disturbance combined with poor choices (such as not wearing glasses or
contacts) can lead to disastrous consequences for yourself and others. LASIK vision correction
in Charleston can
correct these types of refractive errors, but even having 20/20 vision will not
reduce the negative effects of alcohol on your vision.
In the past, some LASIK patients also complained of night
vision problems after their procedure; however, today’s LASIK technology has effectively reduced
this type of complication of LASIK. To learn more about Charleston LASIK and find out if
you might be a good candidate for the procedure, contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery at 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com. And whether or
not you have LASIK, please never drink and drive.
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