Absence of parasympathetic denervation of the iris in alcoholics.

Abstract
Patients [40] with a history of alcohol abuse were treated with a 2% solution of methacholine to determine the prevalence of iridic parasympathetic denervation. Of the alcoholics 8% showed iris constriction of 1.0 mm or more, compared with 8% control subjects. Damage to the iridic parasympathetic nerve supply occurs in .apprx. 80% of patients with diabetes mellitus as determined by the same pharmacological technique.