Alcohol?
In the April 2023 edition of the journal Cornea, Ranit Karmakar and colleagues published a study regarding alcohol and endothelial cells.
Endothelial cells are the cells on the inside of the cornea, which is the very front part of the eye (like a “windshield” over inner parts of the eye). These cells are responsible for various things including pumping water out of the body of the cornea to keep it clear and thin.
The study team found that alcohol abuse is associated with a decrease in endothelial cell density and alterations in endothelial cell shape. One important thing to keep in mind is that the association is with alcohol abuse and not simply with alcohol use, so having a drink isn’t necessarily going to ruin your cornea!