[Perceptual disorders of the peripheral visual field caused by alcohol. Studies with the automatic Octopus perimeter].

The present paper reports on examinations of temporal visual field perimetry with the Octopus computer-controlled automatic perimeter (Program 51). Nine subjects were tested under normal conditions and after consumption of alcohol. The Octopus represents a static examination method employing the grid perimetry principle. Under the influence of alcohol 7 subjects with blood alcohol concentrations of over 1 0/00 had visual fields which were concentrically restricted to various degrees, with relative scotomata centrally to the concentric restriction. In paired comparisons, reductions in sensitivity to light were found which were statistically highly significant. Previous investigations, conducted exclusively with kinetic perimeters, were unable to demonstrate the subjectively perceived concentric restriction of the visual field ("tunnel vision") following consumption of alcohol.