While occasional drinking causes temporary vision issues, long-term excessive alcohol consumption can lead to permanent eye damage. Chronic alcohol use can lead to blurred vision, optic nerve damage, and long-term eye health issues. In extreme cases, prolonged alcohol abuse and subsequent withdrawal can lead to severe conditions such as optic neuropathy and optic atrophy. Optic neuropathy refers to damage to the optic nerve, which can cause vision loss. Optic atrophy is a condition Alcoholics Anonymous characterized by the degeneration of optic nerve fibres, which can potentially result in blindness. It’s clear to see that frequent drinking really isn’t that rare in the UK.

  • In addition to reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a balanced diet can help prevent eye problems related to alcohol consumption.
  • Alcohol-induced optic neuropathy occurs when there is significant damage to the optic nerve and surrounding nerve endings.
  • At first, the fast-acting effects of a couple of drinks might have you feeling relaxed, drowsy, or even giddy.
  • This happens due to alcohol’s effects on the muscles controlling eye movements and its overall depressant effect on the central nervous system.
  • At 0.20% and above, individuals are severely intoxicated and may experience loss of consciousness.

Alcohol Affects Essential Nutrients Your Eyes Need

Below, we explore how drinking affects eyesight and why it leads to certain symptoms. While our focus today is on the eyes, it’s crucial to recognize that they’re just one part of the story. Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system, and its effects can be seen throughout the body. In moderation, alcohol consumption is generally considered safe for healthy adults. However, excessive use of alcohol can lead to a variety of adverse effects, including impaired judgment, decreased coordination, and slurred blurry vision hangover speech. AMD is a common eye condition, but it’s also a leading cause of blindness in adults over age 65.

The impacts of high alcohol consumption on your vision

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Here are some additional measures our caring specialists will help you implement to protect eye health in conjunction with treatment. Many optical impacts stemming from alcohol use are a reflection of what drinking is doing to your insides. That said, here are the most common effects and impacts of alcohol on your optics. Light sensitivity is another example of what happens to your eyes when you drink alcohol and how it is related to what happens to your brain. So, if you go from a dark room to a light room or vice versa, you’d have a lot of trouble adjusting to the new lighting.

Weakened Eye Muscles

The impacts of high alcohol consumption on your vision

Unlike some temporary vision effects, cataracts progressively worsen and typically require surgical intervention to restore clear vision. Alcohol, as a central nervous system depressant, slows down the communication speed of these neurotransmitters. This slowdown means that the instructions our brain sends to different body parts, including our eyes, are not https://asispass.cl/2025/07/03/why-does-alcohol-make-you-hot/ transmitted as efficiently or effectively as without alcohol. So, adding these protective nutrients to your diet can reduce the chances of developing eye diseases such as AMD. There is no single treatment, so individuals receive treatment depending on their symptoms.

  • Excessive drinking over time can lead to optic nerve damage, increasing the likelihood of permanent vision impairment.
  • This expansion, especially in the conjunctiva (the clear tissue over the white part of the eyes), makes blood vessels more visible, causing red or bloodshot eyes.
  • Over time, the liver cells get damaged, leading to fatty deposits, inflammation, and scarring — all of which hinder its ability to process bilirubin.
  • This depression impacts the areas of the brain responsible for visual processing, coordination, and eye movement control.