Optical coherence tomography in a patient with tobacco-alcohol amblyopia

Eye (Lond). 2008 Mar;22(3):469-70. doi: 10.1038/sj.eye.6702821. Epub 2007 Apr 13.

Abstract

Aim: To report optical coherence tomography (OCT) finding in a patient with tobacco-alcohol amblyopia.

Methods: A 45-year-old man presented with a gradual decrease in vision over 4 years. He had smoked a half to one pack of cigarettes per day and had consumed 350 cc of gin per day for 30 years. A detailed ophthalmologic examination was performed.

Results: His corrected visual acuities were 20/800 OD and 20/200 OS. A Goldmann visual field examination showed ceco-central scotomas in both eyes. OCT using a peripapillary Fast RNFL (retinal nerve fiber layer) programme showed a small decrease in the RNFL thickness of the superotemporal quadrant in the normative diagram of the right eye in spite of a markedly increased RNFL thickness in both eyes.

Conclusion: During the phase of visual loss in a patient with tobacco-alcohol amblyopia, visual loss may precede optic disc changes as detected by OCT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholism / complications*
  • Amblyopia / diagnosis*
  • Amblyopia / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Fibers
  • Optic Nerve / ultrastructure*
  • Scotoma / diagnosis
  • Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods