CLINICAL APPLICATIONS & DISEASE - Alcohol

Clinical Applications & Disease > Alcohol

Summary from: "Contrast sensitivity, drivers' visibility, and vision standards." (In references, see: Ginsburg AP. Contrast sensitivity, drivers' visibility, and vision standards.)

An area of paramount concern today with regard to drivers is that of driving and drinking. The main determinant for establishing intoxication when driving is blood alcohol content. A study on the effects of alcohol on contrast sensitivity provided interesting insights as to the ability of blood alcohol content to determine the effects on driver vision.

Contrast sensitivity was measured for seven subjects having different levels of blood alcohol content (BAC) under photopic (daytime) and mesopic (dusk) luminance conditions. In general, a blood alcohol content of less than 0.1 percent resulted in contrast sensitivity changes at all spatial frequencies tested (1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 18 cpd). Although several gains in contrast sensitivity were found, these were all at the higher spatial frequencies and the higher luminance levels. Contrast sensitivity losses, however, were evident at all spatial frequencies.

Significant differences in the patterns of sensitivity gains and losses for individuals appeared in the data. The highest intoxication levels produced the greatest change in contrast sensitivity in some subjects, whereas a delayed change in contrast sensitivity was found in other subjects. Recovery of contrast sensitivity also varied. Some subjects returned to baseline sensitivity as BAC decreased, whereas the contrast sensitivity of others increased or remained suppressed even after BAC returned to initial levels. The alcohol-based contrast sensitivity losses were significant when compared to previous performance-based target acquisition research. These results suggest that some serious loss in visibility of certain objects, especially under low luminance conditions, may be experienced when an individual ingests alcohol, even at moderate rates of alcohol ingestion.

Clinical Applications & Disease > Alcohol

 

This site is regularly updated. Please check back with us often. ContrastSensitivity.net is brought to you by Vision Sciences Research Corporation, San Ramon, California.

| Home | Site Map | About Us | Vision Science |
| Contrast Sensitivity | Vision Testing | Research |
| Resources | Glossary | References |