Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Eyes and Vision

Short term effects of alcohol abuse also include dry eye, redness or tunnel vision. Tunnel vision is the result of the decreased sensitivity of your peripheral vision; you literally are not registering things out of your main field of view. Some studies suggest that chronic heavy drinkers may risk developing cataracts—clouding over the lens that results from hardening.

Let’s take a look at the various ways in which excessive alcohol consumption affects the eyes and vision. Intoxication means the effect of acute consumption of alcohol on different physiologic processes in the body. However, change in visual functions have always been focused in ethanol intoxications. Other effects of drinking alcohol regularly can result in dry eyes and eyelid twitching, known as myokymia. This triggers short-term inflammation and double vision that causes burning and itching of the eyes, migraines, and sensitivity to light.

Eyes and Alcohol: The Effects of Drinking

When the body is dehydrated, the eyes can become dry and irritated, leading to blurry vision. You need to be aware of how much alcohol you can handle and make sure you stay within that limit. You should also monitor how often you drink to your own personal limit (or over it). By taking these steps, you can still enjoy the social effects of alcohol while protecting your eyes. Even when you have just a few drinks, your eyes do not function as well as when you are sober. Drinking just one drink can cause you to get dizzy or have blurry vision.

Besides vision loss, regular alcohol consumption affects your mental health, your liver, and other organs. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency is common among heavy drinkers and alcoholics because alcohol abuse inhibits the absorption of vitamins in the liver. Vitamin B1 is essential for many bodily functions, including eyesight. As a result, vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to weakness or paralysis of the eye muscles. One of the most common side effects of alcohol intoxication is blurred vision.

Levels of Care

However, these changes will go away once the alcohol has cleared the system. If you have any eye problems you worry may be related to drinking, talk to your eye doctor. They can do a comprehensive eye exam to look for signs of cataracts, macular degeneration and other problems. Understanding your symptoms and signs and educating yourself about health conditions are also a part of living your healthiest life. The links above will provide you with more detailed information on these medical conditions to help you inform yourself about the causes and available treatments for these conditions. If your blurry vision persists all day, call to make an urgent eye-care appointment with one of our doctors.

• In 2020, opioid-related deaths only surpassed alcohol deaths by seven percent.
• Amanda Marinelli is a Board Certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health and substance abuse.
• Tolerance
  Everyone has a different tolerance for alcohol; you may be different from someone else who drinks the same amount.
• However, long-term, heavy drinking can pose some serious threats to our vision.
• This is a result of dehydration, but these are only a few of the complications alcohol causes to the eyes.
• It varies from person to person and is affected by age and gender.
• There should be no long-term problems; short-term problems, however, such as blurred vision or headaches are common from overindulgence.

Intoxication is responsible for short-term effects such as blurred vision. Once a person recovers from intoxication, their vision should return to normal. Due to the increased risk for heart disease caused by alcohol, signs of heart disease can be observed in the eyes. Symptoms include optic neuropathy, atrophy, bleeding in the retina from vascular occlusions, and even hypertensive retinopathy. Alcohol may also affect your eyesight in the long term, going beyond temporary symptoms to influencing your likelihood to develop serious eye conditions. One study found that having a 0.08% blood alcohol level (the legal limit for driving in most states) can affect various types of eye movements in healthy young adults.

Short-term effects of alcohol on the eyes and sight

Red wine is one of the most commonly reported migraine triggers, but researchers have yet to understand exactly what it is about red wine that causes headaches. Many people find their recovery journey to be inspiring and a powerful reminder https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of how much they are loved and wanted. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. Heavily intoxicated individuals may develop sudden sensitivity to glare or bright lights.

Amanda completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Post Masters Certification in Psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University. She is a current member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society. He is a member of over a dozen professional medical associations and in his free time enjoys a number of different activities. Although now retired from racing, was a member of the International Motor Sports Association and Sports Car Club of America. Dr. Bishop is also a certified open water scuba diver, he enjoys fishing, traveling, and hunting.

Alcohol Can Cause Blurred Vision

However, even moderate drinking can have negative effects on your vision and overall health. Another cause of alcohol-induced blurry vision is changes in blood sugar levels. Alcohol can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate, which can affect the eyes’ ability to focus properly. On the other hand, if you drink heavily or often, you are at a much higher risk for short-term changes in your vision as well as permanent damage. The more you drink in one sitting, the more likely it is that you will have blurry vision and dizziness.

Our experts can diagnose a medical condition, or work with you to identify changes to your environment or habits. One of the physical characteristics of someone who is a heavy drinker is bloodshot eyes. This change in appearance is due to alcohol abuse swelling the tiny blood vessels in the eye, enlarging their appearance and making the eyeball look red. Moderation
When enjoyed in moderation, alcohol will not damage your eyesight on a permanent basis. There should be no long-term problems; short-term problems, however, such as blurred vision or headaches are common from overindulgence.

They saw halos and starbursts, had difficulty seeing contrast, and experienced longer recovery time after a bright light was shined in their eyes. Blurry vision can be uncomfortable, blurry vision after drinking alcohol anxiety-inducing, and aggravating. Though it is rarely serious, some people who experience blurry vision when they wake up in the morning might have an undiagnosed medical need.

• Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits contain ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
• Long-term abuse of alcohol can also lead to toxic amblyopia or vision loss.
• The moderating effect of stimulus attractiveness on the effect of alcohol consumption on attractiveness ratings.
• Our experienced ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat a range of eye conditions, including alcohol-induced blurry vision.
• Easily book a session with our online doctors to assist you with a wide range of non-life-threatening illnesses (including mental health conditions) from the comfort of your own home.

You may consider first reaching out to a doctor, as they may be able to help determine your medical needs and possibly refer you to treatment centers. You may also be able to find alcohol addiction treatment near you by visiting the SAMHSA treatment locator. While not everyone who binge drinks has an AUD, it can be a very significant risk factor for the development of an AUD. People with seasonal or environmental allergies can experience blurry vision.

If you have ever woken up and struggled to clear your vision first thing in the morning, you are not alone. Morning blurry vision is common and most of the time, totally harmless. However, it should be kept in mind that while some of these symptoms are not harmful in general, they can prove to be a hindrance while driving.