Protein synthesis is important in amplifying the visual signal presented to the retina. Below is a review of the effects of alcohol and smoking on some of the parameters which influence dark adaptation as well as on the process of dark adaptation as a whole. The study found that the maximum pupillary diameter of non users was 6.2mm while those using alcohol regularly the maximum diameter was 5.7mm. The effects are illustrated in figure 1. The above study did not look at the acute effects of alcohol but rather the effects of chronic alcohol use.
Alcohol reduces both the speed and extent to which the pupil dilates.
The maximum size of the pupil in regular alcohol users was found to be 5.7mm while in non users it was 6.2mm. Alcohol appears to have little effect on retinal blood flow and oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Being a neuro depressant it does however have an effect on the transmission of visual information to the cerebral cortex. Hue test error score rising from 26 to 79. It is clear from the above that the neuro-depressive effects of alcohol do effect the visual function.