Alcohol Use and Cataract

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world. As the world's population ages, visual impairment due to cataract is on the increase. This is a significant global problem. The stimulating challenges are to prevent or delay cataract formation. The causes of cataract include age, hereditary factors, smoking, diabetes and ultraviolet (UV) exposure. There are some epidemiologic studies to investigate the relationship between alcohol drinking and cataract. However, the findings on the association between cataract and alcohol consumption are inconsistent. Although the pathophysiologic mechanisms between alcohol and cataract have not been adequately understood, there is some evidence to suggest the relation between alcohol and cataract. Information on a patient's drinking history can be valuable to general physicians when there is a diagnosis of cataract and should be collected on a routine basis.