Addiction and Eye Health

Background The growing prevalence of substance use disorders has heightened interest in their systemic complications. This study aimed to evaluate the ocular effects associated with substance use among patients at El Abbasiya Mental Health Hospital and the Psychiatry Department of Al-Zahraa University Hospital. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study included 300 patients recruited from El Abbasiya Mental Health Hospital (Ophthalmology Department) and Al-Zahraa University Hospital (Psychiatry Department). All participants were diagnosed with addiction according to DSM-5 criteria, assessed using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), and underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. Results Hallucinations were most common among alcohol users, while disturbed vision, dryness, keratitis, and corneal ulceration were most frequently observed in nicotine users. Diplopia was most prevalent among individuals using cough medications. Alcohol, poly-substance use, methamphetamine, and cough medications were associated with higher rates of visual disturbances, conjunctival changes, eyelid dysfunction, and fundus abnormalities. Opioid use was notably linked to a higher prevalence of constricted pupils. Differences in visual impairment across varying frequencies and durations of substance use were not statistically significant. According to the ASI, mild complications were reported in 35 patients (11.67%) in the medical domain and in 107 patients (35.67%) in the psychiatric domain. Despite the high prevalence of substance use, no significant association was found between ophthalmic complications and either the frequency or duration of substance use. This may be attributed to the relatively small and selective sample, as well as the use of a specific questionnaire. Conclusions Substance use is significantly associated with a broad spectrum of ocular complications, with distinct substances producing characteristic patterns of eye involvement.