How does alcohol affect the eyes?

This dehydration extends to your eyes, accelerating the symptoms of dry eye syndrome (itchiness, a burning sensation, blurry vision, watery eyes etc.). A rough guide is 1 large glass of water per 2 units of alcohol drunk. Also, remember to remove your contact lenses before going to bed, as they limit the amount of oxygen reaching your cornea – and may lead to long-term conditions like keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). Using an eye spray or eye drops is also recommended to give a boost of moisture. Among them, alcohol teratogenicity and alcohol-related optic neuropathies are more definite and seem to be the most serious ocular conditions related to alcohol consumption [Table 3]. Excessive alcohol consumption can have temporary and long-term effects on your vision.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol On The Eyes

Optic neuropathy secondary to chronic alcohol consumption is thought to be due to nutritional depletion of thiamine (vitamin B1). Over time vision loss blurry vision after drinking alcohol can extend to include central vision, and even result in complete blindness. In intoxicated individuals, the pupils do not constrict properly to light.

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Even after just one to a few drinks, your vision may become blurred, along with other side effects, such as slurred speech, slowed reactions, and memory loss or change. As with any substance, our bodies can only metabolize a specific amount of alcohol at a time. Occasionally drinking moderate amounts of alcohol doesn’t usually cause any health problems.

Alcohol and optic neuropathy

But what about the long-term effects of drinking alcohol on the eye? Florida Eye Specialists and Cataract Institute would like you to gain some knowledge about eyes and alcohol and whether excessive drinking can lead to eye problems. Long-term alcohol use is also linked to an increased risk of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This condition affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision.

• Expect slow pupil reaction time for up to 24 hours after your bout of excessive drinking.
• Your overall responses can slow down while you are under the influence of alcohol.
• As with any substance, our bodies can only metabolize a specific amount of alcohol at a time.
• Reducing high blood pressure can ease hypertension, and hypertensive retinopathy, which causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the area at the back of the eye that allows you to focus images.
• Good circulation is essential to maintaining good eye health as it means that they are receiving frequent oxygen and nutrients to prevent disease and damage, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.
• Acute optic neuropathy secondary to methyl alcohol consumption is a serious ocular disease with permanent vision loss or scotoma.