Moderate Drinking in Diabetics May Cause Blurred Vision

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the major complications of diabetes; the small blood vessels of the retina are damaged, which is diagnosed using ophthalmoscopy.  European researchers wanted to see if there was an association between alcohol consumption and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetics.  They used data from a study of type 2 diabetics aged 55 to 82 years, and published their findings in the journal Diabetic Medicine.

Over 1,200 diabetics provided information on past and present drinking habits;  moderate and heavy alcohol consumption were defined as 1-14 drinks a week and more than 14 drinks a week, respectively.  Retinopathy was detected in these subjects by stereoscopic photography of the retina after an iris-dilating eye-drop.  Visual acuity was tested using a standard chart (Snellen chart).

Tests were repeated after an average of 5.5 years.  Moderate drinking didn’t increase the risk for or progression of retinopathy; compared with non-drinkers, the risks were 0.88 and 1.08 for moderate and heavy drinking, respectively.  However, moderate drinkers had a 1.83-times likelihood of having a loss of two lines on visual acuity charts, compared with non-drinkers.  Heavy drinkers had a similar degree of two-line acuity loss – 2.09 times that of non-drinkers.  Those subjects who preferred beer or hard liquor were slight more likely to have loss of acuity than wine drinkers. 

The researchers conclude that: “Alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk of deterioration of visual acuity, but not with retinopathy in individuals with type 2 diabetics.”  They suggest the natural antioxidants in wine may partially offset the adverse effects of alcohol on visual acuity.

As a diabetic myself, I’m in a quandary.  We’ve seen the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, and now this rather negative finding.  I guess I’ll have to stick to wine and a limit of 2 glasses a day. . .