[Therapeutic affect of zinc sulfate on central scotoma due to optic neuropathy of alcohol and tobacco abuse].

The oral administration of 400 mg/day for one month of zinc sulphate, when compared with placebo, provoked normal plasma zinc level in treated patients, principally men in their forties, with bilateral, retrobulbar, axial, optic neuropathy related to excessive smoking and consumption of ordinary wine and/or beer and/or spirits. Treatment significantly improved visual capacity (measured with Friedmann analyser) of the central scotoma area (5 degrees).