How Does Alcohol Affect Vision?
Ever wondered how alcohol affects a person's vision? The answer might surprise you.
Alcohol affects the entire body, but it can specifically affect the eyes in negative ways. In fact, alcohol can cause short-term vision distortion and even long-term eye health issues.
Does alcohol cause dry eyes? Is there a connection between red eyes and alcohol? How much alcohol use is too much? There are a lot of questions surrounding alcohol and vision.
At Visionworks, we’re on a mission to simplify eye care. That means supplying you with the information you need to take control of your eye health and make informed decisions. Below, our eye care experts explain how alcohol affects vision and recommend healthy non-alcoholic drinks to try.
How Does Alcohol Affect Eye Health?
Short-Term Effects
Immediate effects of alcohol on eyesight include:
- Blurry or double vision
- Tunnel vision or impaired peripheral vision
- Delayed pupil constriction and dilation
- Impaired contrast perception
- Eye twitching
- Inflammation
- Bloodshot or red eyes
- Burning and itching
- Light sensitivity
- Eye fatigue
- Dry eyes
The list makes the case, but to reiterate, alcohol can be a contributing factor for a wide variety of common vision problems—in addition to contributing to sleep issues. But how long do the short-term effects of drinking last?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, your body takes about an hour to remove the impacts of one single drink. If you have three drinks, then, you’re looking at up to three hours of the short-term effects listed above—or more. The more you drink, the longer you’ll experience the impact.
These short-term effects also impact your ability to safely get behind the wheel. The guidelines above should be seen as a bare minimum before you even consider driving. No matter how long it’s been since your last drink, your state’s legal blood alcohol limit will determine whether you’re legally clear to operate a motor vehicle. If there’s any doubt, play it safe by not driving.
Long-Term Effects
Long-term eye conditions related to alcohol use include:
- Cataracts, or clouding of the eye
- Optic neuropathy, or loss of vision
from interrupted blood flow
- Macular degeneration, or loss of
vision from thinning eye tissue - Weakened eye muscles
- Reduced color perception
- General vision loss
In addition, excessive drinking can affect balance and coordination, which increases the chance of bodily injury, including eye injury. Secondary effects of alcohol use on the eyes can include scratches, punctures, and other forms of trauma.
Alcohol-related eye damage varies based on consumption patterns. It will probably come as no surprise that heavier drinking has a greater impact on your vision. Binge drinking can also result in long-term effects, even if it’s less frequent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines these degrees of alcohol use as follows:
- Heavy drinking: More than 15 drinks per week for men; more than 8 drinks per week for women
- Binge drinking: More than 5 drinks in one sitting for men; more than 4 drinks at once for women
Note that even moderate drinking can lead to short-term vision effects, but you’re less likely to see long-term impact with more moderation.
If you feel your eye health is being negatively affected by your alcohol use, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor to discuss your options.
CDC Guidelines on Drinking
The CDC’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults 21 and over either drink in moderation or abstain entirely. They define moderate drinking as up to two drinks per day for men and up to one drink for women.
The guidelines also point out that moderate drinking has health risks not associated with avoiding alcohol consumption:
- Drinking at all, even in moderation, increases the overall risks of disease (like heart disease) and death.
- Even occasional drinking may raise the risk of certain types of cancer.
- Past studies suggesting health benefits of moderate drinking did not take into account other factors that may have contributed to these results, such as moderate drinkers potentially being more likely to have a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and not smoke.
Does Eyesight Improve After You Quit Drinking?
Excessive alcohol consumption disrupts overall health, including eye health. The short-term effects of alcohol use, including symptoms like bloodshot eyes and twitching, can immediately improve after you quit drinking. Improvement depends on the severity of vision problems, length of consumption, and other factors.
Damage to the optic nerve or other parts of the eye from long-term heavy drinking may not be reversible. Even if you don’t experience any direct eye symptoms, your vision may still be impaired.
Quitting or reducing alcohol use is important for improving eye health and the health of your whole body.
How Does Age Impact Alcohol-Related Vision Problems?
Older adults tend to experience the short-term effects of alcohol more quickly than younger adults. The impact will likely last longer, too.
There are also other considerations related to alcohol and vision as we age. Aging tends to impact overall eye health, meaning you’re probably at a vision disadvantage before you even take the first drink. Some of the conditions we listed may already be part of your life by a certain age and can be exacerbated by drinking.
Remember that years of alcohol use take their toll. How many instances of binge drinking have you had over the years? These can add up. Even moderate alcohol use can have a cumulative impact over time. Overall, you’re at a risk of more serious and long-term effects as you get older.
It’s a good reason to add more restraint at any age. Choosing non-alcoholic alternatives more often can help safeguard your vision.
Eye-Healthy Drinks to Try
In many cases, cocktail hours become social hours. To reduce alcohol use without missing out on social activities, try mixing healthy drinks into your rotation.
Green Tea
Hot or iced green tea contains antioxidants that help protect eyes from damage caused by free radicals and inflammation. Some studies suggest that green tea consumption may help lower the risk of certain eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Orange Juice
Orange juice is a good source of vitamin C, carotenoids, folate, and potassium. These nutrients help protect eyes from free radicals and maintain healthy blood vessels and eye tissue. Orange juice may reduce or slow the effects of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, retinal thinning, and diabetic retinopathy.
Smoothies
Smoothies are a versatile beverage you can load with eye-healthy foods and supplements for eye health. Get creative with your recipes by including leafy greens, citrus, and sweet potatoes. Nourish yourself—and do something good for your eyes!
Green Juice
Juicing is another great way to incorporate vegetables like kale, spinach, and carrots into your diet. These have many benefits for eye health but might be hard to consume as regularly as you’d like. Leafy greens are loaded with vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all of which help lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Water
Like our entire bodies, our eyes are mostly made of water and need hydration to maintain function and comfort. Stay hydrated throughout the day to prevent dry eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts.
Mocktail
It can be challenging to escape the cocktail ritual with friends after a long workday. However, just because you’re reducing your alcohol consumption doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun. Instead, try opting for a mocktail that could range from your favorite mojito sans alcohol to simple sparkling water with a splash of cranberry.
Cheers to Healthy Vision
We’re on a mission to simplify eye care. That means giving you the information you need to make good decisions for your health, including your drink of choice. Remember, alcohol is okay in moderation, but excessive drinking could lead to short-term and long-term vision problems. Substitute healthy beverages when you can and stay up to date with your annual eye exams. Toast to healthy vision and schedule an eye exam at your local Visionworks today.
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Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
