Neuro-ophthalmology experts warn alcohol and tobacco can cause blindness

Medical specialists warn that chronic consumption of alcohol and tobacco can lead to severe vision damage and blindness. This occurs because these substances can cause a collapse in energy production within the cells responsible for vision.

These findings were presented as part of a new publication on neuro-ophthalmology, a medical subspecialty combining ophthalmology and neurology. The work, titled ‘Neuro-Oftalmologia’, was organized by ophthalmologists Eric Pinheiro de Andrade, Leonardo Provetti Cunha, and Mário Luiz Monteiro, and launched during the 70th Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology in Salvador.

The Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO) notes that the eye serves as a non-invasive window into the central nervous system via the optic nerve. Neuro-ophthalmology is essential for diagnosing visual changes originating in the brain or optic nerves, such as optic neuritis, optic nerve infarction, and complications from tumors or aneurysms.

Additionally, the field identifies toxic neuropathies caused by the abuse of alcohol and tobacco, as well as methanol poisoning from adulterated beverages. In cases of chronic alcohol and tobacco use, vision loss often progresses slowly and without pain, frequently affecting both eyes, which can make early detection difficult.