['To assess the involvement of oxidative stress in optic nerves after chronic intake of ethanol in adult rats, when compared to animals fed with an ethanol-free isocaloric diet.', 'Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used throughout the study. They were fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet, whereas the pair-fed group was given an ethanol-free isocaloric diet. After six weeks of the experiment, optic nerves were extracted and markers of oxidative stress were assayed, i.e., antioxidants such as glutathione and lipid peroxidation products such as malondialdehyde (MDA).', 'The GSH content in the optic nerves of ethanol-fed animals was significantly reduced, and the concentration of MDA was significantly higher in this group when compared with the pair-fed group. Time-course of body weight of animals in both groups varied identically throughout the six weeks of the experiment.'] Does [ Chronic ethanol feeding induce oxidative stress in the optic nerve of rats ]?