The Effects That Drinking Alcohol Has On Your Eyes

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, which to most of us means wearing the color green, chowing down on corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and beer –lots of beer. What you may not have considered, however, are the temporary (as well as long-term) effects that drinking can have not only on your vision but also on your eyes.

While you are drinking, alcohol can have many very noticeable effects on your vision. You may experience decreased visual performance through blurred or double vision, which is the result of weakened eye muscle coordination. Your pupils may also develop slowed reactions, which will make it harder to adjust to bright lights (like oncoming headlights). Many people also experience a decrease in their peripheral vision, which can make you feel like you have tunnel vision. These are very important reasons to never drive after having consumed alcohol.

If you are someone who tends to indulge in the special stuff a little too often, you had better start paying attention now. Aside from permanent liver and brain damage from prolonged and excessive drinking, alcohol can also have long lasting effects on your eyes.

The first of these negative effects is decreased contrast sensitivity. This means it is harder to discern between contrasting colors, thus making it a nightmare to drive in the rain, fog or snow. Excessive drinking can also lead to a swelling of the blood vessels in your eyes, making them expand, become more prominent, and also cause eye redness.

If that isn’t enough, drinking too much alcohol can lead to frequent debilitating migraines that are brought on by a visual aura at the onset of the headache. Avid drinkers may also suffer from what is called optic neuropathy. Optic neuropathy is characterized by a painless loss of vision. Decreased peripheral vision or reduced color vision are also symptoms of optic neuropathy. Optic neuropathy can be caused by either excessive alcohol or tobacco consumption, which is why it’s also referred to as “tobacco-alcohol amblyopia.”

Now, the purpose of this article isn’t to convince you to kick the bottle all together, but to be conscious of how much you drink. You can still go out and enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day. Just keep in mind the long-term impacts of alcohol that may harm your vision. If you or someone you know has a problem with alcoholism and excessive drinking, please seek help. There are resources are everywhere!

If you have any other questions about how to protect your vision and eye health, don’t hesitate to stop by your local Site for Sore Eyes location. Their vision care specialists will be able to help answer your questions and give you tips on how to better care for your eyes. We from Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley wish you all a happy, safe and fun St. Patrick’s Day!