Alcoholic Eyes and the Toll of Heavy Drinking

Alcohol Consumption and its Effect on Your Eyes and Vision

Have you ever heard someone refer to “alcoholic eyes” and grow curious about what it means? The term doesn’t merely point to the appearance of bloodshot eyes or undereye dark circles that develop from chronic heavy drinking can cause. It also refers to the hidden toll that excessive alcohol consumption, especially long-term alcohol abuse, can cause to general eye health.

Purpose Healing Center is a Joint Commission-accredited treatment center, proof that we take treating Alcohol Use Disorder and related symptoms to heart. We recognize that while excessive alcohol use may be a mental health challenge, it closely intersects with many physical health issues. That includes poor vision and deterioration of eyesight.

Keep reading to learn more about alcoholic eyes and other harmful effects of drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages.

Eyes Suffer From Excessive Alcohol Consumption

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul. But they can also tell a story of prolonged alcohol use or any similar substance use disorder. If you suspect someone you love struggles with an alcohol problem, it’s good to research the things you should look out for.

Here are some eye health concerns excessive alcohol consumption can cause:

Blurred or Double Vision

Drinking too much alcohol impairs the brain’s ability to process visual inputs. That can lead to blurry vision or double vision, even impacting the ability to see oncoming headlights. Blurred vision is often one of the most immediate effects you might experience while drinking. It makes it hard to see well and can be hazardous.

Optic Nerve Damage

Excessive drinking, especially after drinking alcohol for many years, can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends visual information from the eye to the brain, meaning this damage can cause vision problems. The issues increase over time, in some cases the vision loss becomes blindness due to alcohol abuse.

Pupil’s Reaction Time Gets Slower

Alcohol addiction can also slow down the reaction time of the pupils. Rapid eye movement helps your eyes adjust quickly to sudden changes in light. The effects of alcohol it harder for the eyes to adjust to different light; it causes night vision loss for some and bright light sensitivity for others. It makes driving or operating any machines dangerous.

Bloodshot Eyes and Swollen Blood Vessels in the Eyes

Drinking alcohol affects the tiny blood vessels or spider veins in your eyes, causing them to dilate. That’s the cause of what we usually call bloodshot eyes. It can also result in swollen blood vessels, which give the eyes an obvious red or pink appearance. This eye condition can cause some eye pain as the eyes swell.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Heavy drinking can cause age-related macular degeneration over long-term use. This eye disease affects retina health and can lead to distorted vision or total vision loss. It impacts your ability to see fine details or read.

While the physical signs of macular degeneration usually become apparent at around age 55, research suggests that early onset is possible. Researchers are currently looking into the progression of the disease.

Nutritional Deficiencies Due to Alcohol Consumption

An ongoing alcohol problem can also harm the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients, including eye nutrition. The deficiency weakens the eye muscles and can eventually lead to muscle loss.

Also, it can lead to nutritional optic neuropathy. It creates an increased risk for developing severe vision issues and may contribute to glaucoma later in life.

Yellow Eyes Result from Alcohol Abuse

Alcoholic eyes symptoms can also be a clue that someone has liver disease, one of the worst outcomes of an alcohol addiction. Yellowing of the eye whites, scleral icterus, signifies liver disease, including cirrhosis or hepatitis.

Both diseases are long-term negative effects of extended alcohol abuse and require medical support. The person may also have jaundice, or a yellowing of the skin.

Excessive Drinking and Chronic Dry Eyes

Alcohol is known for causing dehydration to the entire body, including experiencing dry eyes. When dehydrated, the eyes can’t produce sufficient tears to stay lubricated. It can lead to discomfort, feeling of “sand” in the eyes, eye twitching, and redness.

Any eye infections can also be exacerbated when a person’s eyes are so dry. Your doctor may suggest eye drops for immediate relief.

Short and Long-Term Symptoms and Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder

Now that we’ve discussed alcoholic eyes and other eye symptoms related to alcohol misuse, let’s look at additional signs that some may require professional alcohol treatment programs to stop drinking.

• Weight loss or weight gain: Alcohol abuse can cause unexplained changes in weight, thanks to its impact on appetite and metabolism.
• Alcoholic face: Besides red eyes and other alcoholic eyes symptoms, those struggling with alcohol addiction often have a red nose, puffiness, or a bloated appearance in the face.
• Jaundice: This term refers to the yellowing of the skin due to the effects of alcohol on the liver.
• Poor hygiene: Many who struggle with mental health diagnoses, including alcohol use disorder, neglect taking care of their grooming needs.
• Hand tremors: Many with an alcohol addiction have shaky, trembling hands. You might particularly notice this when they try holding something steady.
• Increased tolerance and cravings: Someone struggling with alcohol starts drinking more often and has cravings as the addiction continues. They are building tolerance for alcohol and may start to experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking.
• Mood changes and irritability: Alcohol consumption often masks depression, panic or anxiety disorders, or unresolved trauma. When not drinking, these mental health conditions reveal themselves, which others misunderstand as a bad mood.
• Frequent hangovers: You may notice that your friend or loved one mentions feeling hungover after heavy drinking. Hearing this frequently indicates a drinking problem.

This person may often promise to try reducing alcohol consumption. But it never seems to happen. That’s not a lack of desire but a lack of knowing how to get help. Professional treatment options like those at Purpose Healing Center are the way to help move forward and leave alcohol abuse behind.

Alcoholic Eyes Reveal a Need for Effective Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one has alcoholic eyes or any of the signs of alcohol abuse or addiction we’ve discussed today, it is time to seek proven addiction treatment.

The treatment professionals at Purpose Healing Center use evidence-based methods to make long-term recovery possible. Clients receive customized treatment plans, including:

• Behavioral therapies
• Coping strategies
• Psychotherapy
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Aftercare planning to prevent relapses

We do more than clear up alcoholic eyes; our integrated treatment techniques address each client’s entire well-being, physically and mentally.

Insurance Verification Services

Our treatment center has a dedicated insurance specialist to help you understand your healthcare plan. We work with most large private and group health programs, including AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program.

Our goal is to help each client who reaches out for our assistance get the mental health care they need with the lowest money out of pocket – zero dollars in some cases.

Call Purpose Today for Help with Problematic Drinking

We are here to offer support and guidance, as well as accredited detox services and a full array of alcohol treatment programs to meet a wide array of needs.

Call us today if you need to inquire about help for yourself or a loved one.

All calls are confidential, so please reach out for our support today!