The Effects of Alcohol on Eye Movement

ABSTRACT

This is a study to determine if there is a significant relationship between eye movement and alcohol intake at and below the legal limit of 0.05% blood alcohol concentration [BAC], and to identify the minimal BAC that causes significant change in eye movement. Twenty healthy males were orally given 0.57g/kg alcohol. After the alcohol intake, the BAC was measured at 10 minute intervals along with measurements of saccadic velocity, latency, and gain of pursuit movement of the eye. Linear regression analysis between BAC < or =0.05%and saccadic velocity and latency resulted in correlation coefficients of 0.258 and 0.306 respectively[p<0.005], while gain of pursuit movement had no relation to BAC.The latency at 0.05~0.06%BAC interval increased compared with the values before alcohol intake, with statistical significance [p<0.05 ]. Although there existed variations among subjects, a significant functional change of eye movement developed at 0.05%BAC, the legal limit of alcohol.Eye movement is thought to be a valuable indicator of CNS depression by alcohol and prolonged latency of saccadic eye movement by alcohol may be the explanation for increased risk of traffic accidents after alcohol intake.