Abstaining from alcohol may lower risk for severe visual impairment, blindness in glaucoma
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Key takeaways:
- Both mild and moderate to heavy alcohol consumption were associated with increased risk for visual impairment and blindness.
- Those who underwent glaucoma surgery were at even higher risk with continued drinking.
Patients with open-angle glaucoma who abstain from consuming alcohol may be at lower risk for severe visual impairment and blindness, according to a review published in JAMA Network Open.
“This study investigated, in a nationwide, population-based cohort of patients with newly diagnosed OAG, the association between alcohol consumption status (and its changes) and risk of incident severe VI or blindness,” Yoon Jeong, MD, of Seoul National University Hospital, and colleagues wrote.
In a study of 13,643 participants (88.4% men; mean age, 53.7 years) newly diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) who were drinkers, 21% quit drinking following diagnosis. Among the 79% who continued drinking, 69.2% were mild drinkers and 30.8% were moderate to heavy drinkers.
Over the course of 91,366 person-years of follow-up, 58 patients were diagnosed with incident severe visual impairment (VI) or blindness, 45 of whom sustained alcohol consumption after OAG diagnosis.
Further, mild alcohol consumption was associated with a significantly higher risk for severe VI and blindness compared with abstinence, and moderate to heavy consumption was associated with even higher risk.
After performing sensitivity analysis, the researchers found that patients who underwent glaucoma surgery were at even higher risk for VI if they maintained alcohol consumption.
“In this cohort study of patients with OAG who were drinkers, alcohol abstinence was associated with diminished risk of severe VI or blindness,” Jeong and colleagues wrote. “Lifestyle interventions, such as alcohol abstinence, could be essential in a comprehensive approach for patients with newly diagnosed OAG.”
Perspective
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With regard to alcohol and glaucoma, science appears to be catching up to common sense. Studies show alcohol consumption increases IOP and is associated with thinner RNFL and increased risk for OAG prevalence.
The recent WHO finding that no amount of alcohol consumption can be considered safe and that the risk to the drinker’s health “starts with the first drop” is relevant in this context. It should then come as no surprise that data are emerging to suggest that continued alcohol consumption — even in mild quantities — can increase risk for visual impairment and blindness in patients newly diagnosed with OAG. The risk is commensurate with the degree of alcohol intake.
The deleterious effects of alcohol may be caused by neurotoxicity and cardiovascular disease associated with drinking. The good news is those who cut their alcohol intake after being diagnosed with glaucoma decreased their risk for visual impairment and blindness.
While further studies are needed, doctors can confidently suggest sobriety to those at risk for glaucoma or those newly diagnosed with the disease. These findings highlight the importance of healthy living and the need to take a holistic approach to health care.
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