Sudden vision loss after heavy drinking

Alcoholic amblyopia, also known as nutritional amblyopia, is found in chronic alcoholics. It is a special type of visual impairment in patients with chronic alcoholism. The disease is most likely related to a deficiency in one or more B vitamins. There may also be factors for the toxic effects of alcohol. The disease is a retrobulbar optic neuritis and a lesion involving macular optic disc fibers. Pathologically, the bilateral symmetrical optic nerve center fibers were demyelinated, the retinal ganglion cells disappeared, and the macular area was the most important. In severe cases, the optic nerve fibers can be replaced by collagen connective tissue. Because alcoholic beverages produce 7 kcal of calories per gram of alcohol, the wine does not contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients. As a result, alcoholics often show significant nutritional deficiencies. At the same time as the nutritional metabolism is impaired, the direct toxic effects of ethanol also cause further damage. Therefore, most cases can have both dystrophic and toxic effects.