But with alcohol in the picture, the liver gets overwhelmed, and bilirubin starts accumulating in places it shouldn’t — like our skin and the whites of our eyes. The eyes don’t just mirror the soul — they can tell a vivid story of the physical world deeper inside, particularly the liver. One signal is a distinctive yellowing of the eyes known as scleral icterus.
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With the right knowledge and support, turning the page to a healthier chapter is entirely possible! Stay curious, stay informed, and give your eyes (and the rest of your body!) the care they deserve and the opportunity to thrive. While our focus today is on the eyes, it’s crucial to recognize that they’re just one part of the story. Heavy alcohol consumption can lead to the development or worsen the symptoms of ocular surface disease (OSD).
That means, with the proper treatment, your eye color and optical appearance will return to Alcoholic eyes its original healthy-looking state the longer you go without drinking. Speak to a specialist to find out potential rehab options and timelines for visual restoration relative to your alcohol battles. Once detox is complete, it’s best to begin an addiction treatment program on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Treatment for alcohol addiction is individualized but may include individual and group therapy, holistic therapy, and behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Terry Hurley is a retired educational professional and freelance writer with more than fifty years of experience. A former reading specialist and learning center director, Terry loved her years working with children in the educational field.
Alcoholic Eyes: The Impact Alcohol Has on Your Eyes
These correlations may contribute to several possible complications or effects on the eyes. The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge. Alcohol abuse can make it difficult for a person to control their diabetes due to causing acute elevation in blood sugar levels. Poor glycemic control may increase the chances of worsening diabetic retinopathy. An estimated 28.8 million adults ages 18 and older in the United States have AUD.12 To diagnose the condition, doctors ask a series of questions.
Comprehensive Residential Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Cataracts are a condition that causes eye lenses to become foggy, blurred, or minimized in some capacity. Cataract-related eye distortion can range from mild to severe depending on alcohol-related, medical history, and bodily reaction factors. Cataracts, though difficult to live with, have minimal resolutions. The only known curable option for cataracts requires special optical surgery, which has an enormously high success rate. How long drunk eyes last can depend on the person, the amount of alcohol consumed, and hydration levels.
- We can often spot these telltale “alcoholic eyes” right away when looking at someone who has had a few too many.
- It can also happen because of the depressant effect of alcohol, causing the blood vessels to swell and increasing the blood flow.
- After withdrawal, alcohol addiction treatment should involve therapy to address root issues that led to alcohol abuse.
- You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance.
- If they suspect impaired driving, law enforcement officers will use the eyes as part of a field sobriety test.
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With comprehensive addiction treatment, including medical detox and personalized therapy, you can safely stop misusing alcohol and begin to build a better future in recovery. Alcohol widens the blood vessels, including those in the eyes, causing redness and the appearance of bloodshot eyes. Heavy drinking can lead to long-term effects on the eyes that can range in severity from rapid eye movement to vision loss and blindness. Long-term heavy drinking can cause interference between the brain and the eyes.
Long-Term Eye Effects
- However, chronic heavy alcohol use may lead to prolonged eye redness.
- Treatments can vary based on how alcohol has affected a person’s eyes and optic nerve.
- Alcohol causes blood vessels in the eyes to expand, leading to redness or a bloodshot appearance.
- How long drunk eyes last can depend on the person, the amount of alcohol consumed, and hydration levels.
- If you notice these symptoms frequently, they may indicate a deeper issue tied to your alcohol consumption.
- Without medical assistance, alcohol withdrawal can trigger potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Get the highest quality detox and addiction help everyone deserves. With occasional drinking, the effects on vision typically subside once the alcohol clears your system and you sober up. However, it can cause blurred vision, abnormal eye movement, light sensitivity, and impaired color perception. Our approach is holistic, addressing not only the physical symptoms of alcohol addiction like alcohol eyes but also the psychological, social, and behavioral aspects.
The condition known as scleral icterus causes the whites of the eyes to turn yellow due to an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a natural, yellow-colored byproduct of red-blood cell breakdown and is eliminated by the liver. When the liver is damaged by excessive alcohol consumption, it fails to process the bilirubin, causing it to accumulate.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, you are not alone. Call and speak to a caring professional at Anabranch Recovery Center, located in Terre Haute, Indiana. This affects blood vessels in the retina, potentially causing vision problems that can even progress to blindness if untreated. Chronic alcohol consumption can contribute to dry eye syndrome, causing discomfort, irritation, and a gritty sensation in the eyes due to decreased tear production. When these changes persist even during sober periods, they may point to alcohol dependence.
Alcohol misuse can lead to serious health complications, impact mental well-being, and diminish overall quality of life. If you find that a night of overindulgence leads to short-term eye issues the morning after, there are a few things you can try. While these problems are usually temporary, knowing how to address them can make all the difference in turning your day around. The Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov once said, “The tongue may hide the truth but the eyes — never!
Boca Recovery Center is here to provide the best quality care in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. However, they may grow annoyed when people ask about their drinking. They may also need a “morning drink” to steady their nerves or deal with alcohol hangovers.13 These signs may indicate that someone you love needs your help. Some people may experience increased sensitivity to light after consuming alcohol. Alcohol may temporarily reduce visual acuity, making it harder to focus and see clearly.
Alcohol eyes are more than just a visible sign of alcohol consumption; they can be a window into the broader impacts of alcohol on an individual’s health. If you’re wondering how to deal with an alcoholic spouse, recognizing physical symptoms like alcohol eyes can be an important first step. At Pathways Recovery Center, we are dedicated to helping individuals understand and overcome the physical and psychological effects of alcohol addiction.