Excessive Alcohol Use: How It Damages Your Eyes

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. Alcohol may also affect your eyesight in the long term, going beyond temporary symptoms to influencing your likelihood to develop serious eye conditions. If your migraines are unusually severe or do not respond to your normal treatment, you should consider visiting a healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms. Your provider can evaluate migraine with a review of your symptoms.

• Diagnosis is made through patient history and physical examination.
• 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.
• Because your reaction time is slowed when you drink, so are your eyes.

Additional side effects of alcohol on vision and eye sight

These effects may be more permanent and can include reduced vision, migraine headaches, sensitivity to light, and even blindness. For blurry vision caused by dry eyes, you may be able to improve the blurriness simply by blinking a few times or using a warm compress to gently massage the eyelids. This can stimulate the meibomian, or oil, glands in the eyelid.

The long-term effects of alcohol on the eyes

This condition is characterized by high blood pressure or liver or kidney damage that most often occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. In addition to blurry vision, symptoms include an extreme headache, trouble breathing, and feeling lightheaded or faint. Heavy drinking also significantly increases your risk of heart and liver problems. Though these aren’t eye diseases, the first signs of these conditions are often seen in the eyes as part of a comprehensive eye exam.

Torn or detached retina

It often occurs in what’s called the “prodrome” phase, an early part of a migraine attack when your headache hasn’t started yet. To prevent the temporary blurriness often experienced blurry vision day after drinking after drinking, it is advisable to consume alcohol in moderation. Limiting alcohol intake and staying hydrated can help minimize the impact on the visual system.

• In this article, we will explore the main reasons behind experiencing blurry vision after a night of drinking.
• It can affect eye muscles and change how the brain processes images.
• Blurred vision is a common complaint among individuals who have consumed a large amount of alcohol the night before.
• You may also be able to find alcohol addiction treatment near you by visiting the SAMHSA treatment locator.

Vision Issues from Excessive Alcohol Consumption

• One common effect of alcohol consumption is blurry vision.
• You might develop a painless loss of vision, decreased peripheral vision, or reduced color vision.
• The potential long-term issues relate to changes to the eyes’ structures or the communication between the eyes and brain.
• Once the person has consumed a little alcohol, the brain relaxes that control and vision problems become apparent.

If your symptoms change or worsen, go to the ER immediately. If you have diabetes, see an eye doctor regularly and try to keep blood sugar levels under control to prevent diabetic retinopathy. Blood pressure at these high readings, with these symptoms, can damage blood vessels and cause a stroke. Concussion symptoms tend to last for a few days to weeks.

Causes of blurry eyes that likely require medical treatment

• A Journal of Ophthalmology study found that night vision gets worse after drinking in both men and women.
• Alcohol can cause mild symptoms, like making the blood vessels in your eyes to dilate, causing redness.
• Treatments can get rid of uveitis, but the type you need will depend on which part of your eye is affected.
• It could be a sign of preeclampsia, a dangerous condition marked by very high blood pressure and protein in your urine.

If blurry vision comes on suddenly or only in one eye, you should seek medical help right away. Blurry vision after drinking alcohol is a common symptom of alcohol intoxication. Alcohol affects the central nervous system, including the optic nerves, which can lead to temporary blurred vision. When a person consumes alcohol, it affects various systems in the body, including the visual system. One of the primary reasons for blurry vision after drinking is alcohol’s impact on the central nervous system. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down the communication between nerve cells.

Are there any underlying medical conditions that could contribute to blurry vision after consuming alcohol?