Alcohol and the Eye PMC

blurry vision after drinking alcohol

This article reviews how alcohol can affect vision, the possible short- and long-term effects, treatments, and more. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 14.4 million Americans over the age of 18 have an alcohol use disorder.13 Among U.S. adults, 1 in 6 binge drinks about 4 times a month, drinking 7 alcoholic beverages per binge. While not everyone who binge drinks has an AUD, it can be a very significant risk factor for can alcohol affect the gallbladder the development of an AUD. Formerly, Tyler studied Aeronautics (just like his brother) with the dream of becoming an airline pilot, however, after 9/11 his career path changed.

  1. The delay is only a few milliseconds, but it can make a difference in your ability to carry out normal activities, For example, you may also experience delayed reactions while driving.
  2. If you drink excessively, be sure to see a healthcare professional so you can get help cutting down before the effects on your health get worse.
  3. Treatments will vary greatly based on a person’s symptoms or health conditions that develop as a result of alcohol use.
  4. Heavy alcohol use may cause problems with your vision and overall eye health.
  5. According to the present medical literature, along with harmful effects on many other organs of the body, alcohol consumption may damage ocular tissues, from the cornea and conjunctiva to the retina and optic nerve.
  6. A person should talk with a doctor about treatment options that will work for them.

Ways Excessive Drinking Can Cause Vision Problems

blurry vision after drinking alcohol

You may also be able to find alcohol addiction treatment near you by visiting does alcohol cause gallstones the SAMHSA treatment locator. Like double vision, if the bloodshot eyes do not revert back to normal after a night of drinking, then it could be more serious and require medical attention. If your eyes are bloodshot, avoid touching them and talk to your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Florida Eye Specialists and Cataract Institute would like you to gain some knowledge about eyes and alcohol and whether excessive drinking can lead addiction recovery group activities to eye problems. Occasionally drinking moderate amounts of alcohol doesn’t usually cause any health problems. But if you are a heavy drinker—which means consuming alcohol more than a few times per week or binge drinking—you will likely experience health issues as a result. It is hard to predict whether you will develop effects that harm your liver, heart, nerves, or eyes, and you can experience a combination of these. If you drink excessively, be sure to see a healthcare professional so you can get help cutting down before the effects on your health get worse. Drinking alcohol excessively (frequently or in large amounts) can have harmful effects on your body, including your eyes.

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Among its short-term effects are blurred vision and double vision, which can be temporary effects of intoxication, although they typically wear off as the person sobers up or the next day. Alcohol abuse can also contribute to long-term changes to vision such as an increased risk of developing cataracts. Alcohol consumption can lead to more than blurry vision and bloodshot eyes. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over time can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss. There are many reasons to stop drinking, and damage to vision—whether short- or long-term—is one of them.

Permanent Effects of Alcohol on Eye Health

Long-term excessive drinking can lead to potential health issues, including problems with vision. Optic nerve damage is very closely linked to neurological damage sustained by the brain when partaking in heavy drinking. Because the optic nerve is made up of neurological transmitters, it can become damaged by alcohol, just like in the brain. ModerationWhen 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. A doctor can provide more details about what a person can do to address their vision issues.

We categorized the relationship between alcohol intake and ocular conditions by the type of ocular exposure to alcohol. Accordingly, ocular findings following acute alcohol intoxication, optic neuropathy following methanol toxicity, congenital conditions related to maternal alcohol consumption, and ocular disease related to chronic alcoholism are discussed. The main feature of alcohol intoxication in the eye is abnormal eye movement. Acute optic neuropathy secondary to methyl alcohol consumption is a serious ocular disease with permanent vision loss or scotoma. Prenatal exposure to ethanol may end in fetal alcohol spectrum disease, where ocular findings are a constant component.

Treatments will vary greatly based on a person’s symptoms or health conditions that develop as a result of alcohol use. A person should talk with a doctor about treatment options that will work for them. You may think that a wild lifestyle that includes excessive drinking only affects the brain and liver, but it affects every part of the body for the worse. Next time you go out drinking or have a get-together, set a limit for yourself so as to not go overboard. Toxic amblyopia was very common before World War II due to excessive drinking and tobacco use.

This is sometimes known as “beer goggles.” After all, impaired vision and a slowed reaction time are why drinking and driving are often a fatal combination. Possible short-term problems relating to intoxication include blurry vision, changes in color perception, and light sensitivity. Treatments can vary based on how alcohol has affected a person’s eyes and optic nerve.

You might develop a painless loss of vision, decreased peripheral vision, or reduced color vision. Alcohol-related vision problems may differ depending on how long someone has been drinking, how much they consume, and how often, along with their specific health conditions. Individuals with pre-existing health issues, such as liver damage, kidney disease, migraines, diabetes, or poor vision, may experience more severe impacts from alcohol on their eyesight. Now that you know what the effects of over-indulgence of alcohol and long-term excessive drinking, you will be aware of how it can affect the eye and eyesight. This is in addition to the problems arising with other organs and the health of the whole body from excessive or long-term alcohol abuse.