The effects of moderate doses of ethanol on heterophoria and other aspects of binocular vision.

It has been known for many years that ethanol has an impairing effect on binocular vision and the co-ordination of the ocular motor balance. Various parameters were compared before and after imbibition of a moderate dosage of ethanol. The results show an increase in esophoria (or decrease in exophoria) at 6 m, with a reduction in the negative fusional ability. They also show an increase in exophoria (or decrease in esophoria) at near, with a decrease in both the AC/A ratio and near point of convergence. There was no significant effect on the amplitude of accommodation. This study raises the possibility of an ophthalmic practitioner attempting to correct a transient, ethanol-induced ocular motor imbalance.