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Clinical Trial
. 2021 Apr 26;11(1):8904.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88435-w.

Deterioration of binocular vision after alcohol intake influences driving performance

Francesco Martino  1 , José Juan Castro-Torres  2 , Miriam Casares-López  1 , Sonia Ortiz-Peregrina  1 , Carolina Ortiz  1 , Rosario G Anera  1
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Deterioration of binocular vision after alcohol intake influences driving performance

Francesco Martino et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

In this study, we assessed the influence of moderate alcohol intake on binocular vision, vergence system and simulated driving performance by analyzing the interactions between visual deterioration and driving variables. Thirty young healthy subjects were recruited. For the analysis, we measured: visual function (visual acuity and stereoacuity), phorias and fusional reserves. Also, we checked Sheard's and Percival's criteria at near and far. The accommodative convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio was calculated and vergence facility was also obtained at near. A driving simulator was used to assess driving performance under natural conditions and after alcohol consumption with a breath alcohol content of 0.40 mg/l. Alcohol intake significantly reduced binocular visual performance and vergence function, except for vertical phorias, horizontal phoria at near and Sheard's and Percival's criteria at near. Driving performance parameters also presented a statistically significant deterioration after alcohol consumption. A statistically significant correlation was found between the deterioration in overall visual function and overall driving performance, highlighting the influence of the visual deterioration on the driving performance. Moderate alcohol consumption impairs binocular visual and simulated driving performances, implying a greater safety hazard. In addition, deteriorations in binocular visual function and vergence correlated with simulated driving impairment, which indicates that the deterioration of binocular vision due to alcohol consumption affects driving, thus reducing road safety.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean values for the horizontal fusional vergences at distance at baseline and after alcohol consumption (BrAC = 0.40 mg/l). Blur, break, and recovery are shown for the negative (NFV) and positive (PFV) fusional vergences. Error bars show standard deviations.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean values for distance and near phorias (horizontal and vertical) at baseline and after alcohol consumption (BrAC = 0.40 mg/l). Error bars show standard deviations.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean values for the horizontal fusional vergences at near distance at baseline and after alcohol consumption (BrAC = 0.40 mg/l). Blur, break, and recovery are shown for the negative fusional vergences (NFV) and positive fusional vergences (PFV). Error bars show standard deviations.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The overall visual deterioration score (OVDS) as a function of the overall driving performance deterioration score (ODPDS).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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