Evaluation of the Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer and Ganglion Cell Layer with Optical Coherence Tomography among Patients with Alcohol Abuse

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol consumption is considered as a major public social problem. A significant number of individuals are affected by alcohol intake resulting in irreversible vision loss, due to damage to the mitochondria that prevents oxidative phosphorylation from occurring, which results in axonal loss.

Objective: This study assesses the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and ganglion cell layer thickness in subjects and correlates with the severity of alcohol intake.

Methodology: This crosssectional study was carried out in Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry under the Department of Ophthalmology. Patients with at least 5 years of alcohol use were included in the study. Personal details of the patient with detailed medical history were noted. Severity of alcohol use was graded by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scoring system for alcohol use. Thorough eye examination were done for all patients including visual acuity, colour vision and slit lamp examination of the anterior segment of the eye. Fundus examination of the disc and macula were done after pupillary dilatation with Tropicamide. OCT analysis of the RNFL and GCL were done using Topcon 3D OCT-1 Maestro 2 OCT machine. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 24.0.

Result: Significant RNFL and GCL thinning were noted in patients with alcohol use. Associated smoking history was found to a confounding factor in reducing the thickness of RNFL and GCL. RNFL and GCL thickness was decreased with increasing alcohol intake which was compared with AUDIT score.

Conclusion: The present study supports the concept that RNFL and GCL thickness is influenced by severity of alcohol abuse. Since alcohol intake is found to reduce RNFL and GCL thickness, this should be taken into consideration while examining patients with alcohol abuse to prevent irreversible vision loss.