Impact of Addiction (Alcohol and Smoking) on Glaucoma

 

Dr. Rakesh Shori, Dr. (Mrs.) Chhaya Shori

Govt. Medical College, Jagdalpur (CG)

*Corresponding Author E-mail: drrakesh.shori@gmail.com, drchhaya.shori@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

Aims and Objective:

To evaluate the impact of addiction specifically alcoholism and smoking on Glaucoma occurrence.

 

Material and Methods:

The study was carried out in a tertiary health care hospital, part of a medical institution. The patients attended the OPD as well as hospitalized were taken as sample. Tools used for this purpose were interview schedule various modern diagnostic technique as well as particular investigations etc.

 

Pro-statistics:

The data collected were tabulated and various statistical method were applied as per requirement.

 

Observation and Discussion:

On analysis of this data it was noticed that 8.69 percent patients suffering from Glaucoma gave history of alcoholism and 15.2% that of smoking which were more or less in accordance of various studies conducted by various researches across the Globe.

 

Recommendation:

Authors personally feel that more and more studies with a large number of cases must be carried out to know the association between Glaucoma to alcoholism and smoking.

 

KEYWORDS: Addiction, Alcoholism, Smoking.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

India is a second largest country of the Globe as per population. Health problems affecting India’s inhabitants are a significant cause of global morbidity. Smoking hubble- bubble is a social custom in some parts of the country, cigarette smoking is now become wide among people.

 

Hubeen noted not only in India but also in other country, Reddi and D.S. et al. [2]

 

Alcohol has been used for confusion to obtain relief from discomfort and tension. An average adult can metabolize about 2 ounce of pure alcohol in 24 hours. Sign of intoxication appear when the blood concentration exceed 0.2 percent. It is difficult to draw a line of demarcation between drinking of alcohol on a social habit  and as a medical problem.

 

A person should be considered alcohol, if his drinking interferes with physical and mental health. Disorders develop through stapes. Frequency and quantity imperceptibly increase with inability to abstain. Memory and concentration become poor. Complication usually develop in the fourth and fifth decade. Physical sign include tremors, evidence of peripheral neuritis, enlarged liver, irritability and respiratory symptoms. Taking into consideration the above facts, the author have undertaken this study with the objective to evaluate the impact of alcoholism and smoking in causation of Glaucoma.

 

Material and Methods:

This study was carried out in a tertiary health care hospital associated with medical institute. The sample include the patient attended the OPD as well as those were admitted for treatment. A detailed history was taken with special focus on personal history of alcoholism and smoking. Routine medical examination including recording of blood pressure etc. was done. A detailed history about various symptoms such as diminution of vision, night blindness, frequent changes of presbiopic glasses, headache, coloured haloes, pain, watering and redness of Eyes was obtained either from patient or his attendant. A complete checkup of both eyes were done- visual acuity for literate person was taken with the help of Snellens chart and in illiterate patient with Landolt’s ring chart. Slit lamp examination was done in all cases. Fundus examination of both eyes was done to exclude any changes of the optic nerve head like cup/ disc ratio, rim/ dise ratio, depth of cup, notch, nasal shifting of blood vessels, Glaucomatous optic atrophy, hemorrhage and peripapillary  atrophy.

 

Water drinking test:

It is based on the theory that Glaucomatous eyes have a greater response to water drinking test after an 8 hours fast. Base line IOP was noted and the patient was asked to drink one litre of water following which IOP was noted every 15 minutes for one hour.  The maximum rise in IOP occurs in 15-30 minutes and return to baseline level after 60 minute in both normal and Glaucomatous eyes. A rise of 8 mmHg or more is said to be diagnosis of POAG.

 

Prone Darkroom test:

It is the most popular and best physiological provocative test for PACG suspects. In this test a baseline IOP was recorded and patient was made to lie prone in a dark room for one hour. Patient was kept awake so that pupils remained dilated. After one hour the IOP was again measured. An increase in IOP more than 8mmHg was considered diagnosis of PACG.

 

Observations and Discussion:

On analysis of collected data it was observed that 22.00 percent of the patient belonging to 46-55 years of age group were addicted to alcohol while 14.00 percent of the patient addicted to alcohol belong to 66-75 age group (Table-I) which correlate with the findings of the various study that complication of alcoholism seems to be appeared in the forth or fifth decade of life.

 

 

Table –I-Alcohol Addiction and Glaucoma

Age in Years

Patient (Glaucoma No.)

Alcohol Addict

No

Percentage

36-45

01

00

00.00

46-55

09

02

22.00

56- 65

20

00

00.00

66-75

14

02

14.00

75+

01

00

00.00

 

Table – II-Smoking and Glaucoma

Age in Years

Patient (Glaucoma No.)

Smoking

No.

Percentage

36-45

01

00

00.00

 

46-55

09

02

22.00

 

56- 65

20

00

15.00

 

66-75

14

02

14.00

 

75+

01

00

00.00

 

 

Table- II shows that 22.00 percent 15.00 percent and 14.00 percent patients were diagnosed as POAG belong to 46-55, 56-65 and 66-75 age group respectively has history to smoking of which shows that smoking develop complication from forth decade onwards.

 

Kliein, B.E.K. et al [3] studied on persons of 43 to 84 years of age alcohol and smoking history  were based on question. The prevalence of glaucoma in heavy drinkers, whether current or past was contrasted with those not reporting heavy drinking.

 

Health education must be an integral part to eliminate this habit of alcoholism and smoking. In health education special emphasis should be paid to teenagers who should be told about the risk of dangers of smoking and alcoholism through pamplets and other mass communication methods.

 

The purpose of education has been defined as teaching the child is to “The fullest, trust, noblest and most fruitful relations of which he capable with the world in which he lives.” It should be given to children as they growup, by their parents, teachers, who should answer their questions honestly and thankly. Discussion in small groups in school and youth clubs (Yuva Mandalis) with an appropriate discussion leading to great advantage.

 

From above observation and discussion the author reached to the conclusion that more and more such studies particularly field based in urban and rural area  must be conducted to analyze the information related to the subjects concerned and act accordingly.

 

References:

1.       Park, JE: Textbook of preventing and social/ medicine (A textbook on community health) M/s Banarsi Das Bhanot/ 1st edition, Jabalpur.

2.       Reddy D.D. et al (1957) Jr. Med. Sci. 11, 791.

3.       Klein, Barbara E.K. et al Relationship of drinking alcohol and smoking to prevalence of open angle Glaucoma. Ophthalmology 1993, 100: 1609-1613.

 

 

 

 

Received on 18.05.2015                             Modified on 30.05.2015

Accepted on 10.06.2015      ©A&V Publications All right reserved

Res. J. Pharmacology & P’dynamics. 7(2): April- June 2015; Page 74-75

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5836.2015.00015.4