Interrupted Memories: Alcohol-Induced Blackouts National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

Alcohol abuse can also contribute to long-term changes to vision such as an increased risk of developing cataracts. While the short-term damage to the eyes from drinking alcohol may be irritating, most of these conditions will clear up if alcohol consumption is stopped or reduced. On the other hand, alcoholic eye damage resulting from chronic alcohol abuse may be long-lasting or permanent. One of the main reasons for damage to the eyes from alcohol abuse is thought to be vitamin deficiency from long-term alcohol abuse. Additionally, alcoholism also disrupts neurological connections to the eye and disturbs optical nerve health. Your risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) also significantly increases as you drink more.

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This means it makes you urinate more frequently, and that dehydration can make your eyes feel uncomfortable. Getting red eyes after drinking is not a long-term consequence, and your eyes should regain their normal color once the alcohol has left your system. But while these effects are temporary, even a small amount of alcohol can cause the uncomfortable effects of eye dryness.

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Most spend the first few days of detox, resting more than normal, to give the body and mind a chance to find equilibrium again. Following alcohol detox, most will progress onwards into a full residential alcohol rehab facility. Detoxing from alcohol means undergoing withdrawal, but with the assistance of prescribed medication and a detox phase, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to substitute in place of the alcohol itself. Withdrawal symptoms can begin quickly after you stop drinking, and can be dangerous in an unsupervised setting. In short, alcohol plays a role of an efficient catalyst in the diagnosing of these diseases. Furthermore, the weakening of the liver due to alcohol leads to vitamin deficiency.

Heavy alcohol use may cause problems with your vision and overall eye health. Some temporary effects occur when you drink, and other effects take time to develop and can be permanent. This article describes the potential effects of alcohol on your eyes. Unhealthy amounts of alcohol consumption can lead to a decrease in peripheral vision, weakened eye muscles, a thinning of the cornea, and loss of color vision—all things that can lead to permanent vision loss. Short-term effects of alcohol can impair and alter vision, but excessive alcohol can greatly impact eyesight and vision, leading to a condition referred to as toxic amblyopia.

Excessive alcohol consumption also affects your eyesight

The more you drink in one sitting, the more likely it is that you will have blurry vision and dizziness. It will help to deal with life threatening symptoms and provide treatment options blurry vision after drinking alcohol beyond residential treatment providers. And, as alcohol use continues over time, the time delay between stopping drinking, and the onset of symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, will reduce.

Likewise, too much alcohol causes the blood vessels in your eyes to grow, making your eyes appear red and bloodshot. If you’re facing severe symptoms, it might be time to get the alcohol withdrawal treatment options to deal with alcohol dependency. In cases of alcohol use disorder or substance abuse, contact Mental Health Services Administration in the US, or your local GP in the UK for detox and withdrawal. The most basic way to reduce the effects of alcohol on the eyes is to practice control.

Alcohol-related liver disease

This means the brain and central nervous system have adjusted to the level of alcohol intake, and have changed the levels of other brain chemicals and hormones accordingly. Brian Obinna Obodeze is a professional health-niche content developer for AlcoRehab.org with six years of experience as a research writer. He is an expert in medical content development, especially in the field of addictions, general health, homeopathic medicine, and pharmaceuticals. Brian has a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Benin and has worked as a Lab Scientist and as a public healthcare officer. His hobbies include physical fitness, reading, and social entrepreneurship.

Overcoming alcohol dependence means first ceasing alcohol intake, and taking care of physical and chemical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Some disorders passed down from parents that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts. Cataracts also can be caused by other eye conditions, past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes. Long-term use of steroid medicines also may cause cataracts to develop.

In the long-term cases, however, alcohol is capable of doing some dramatic damage. The excessive consumption can result in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The worse of all the effects pertinent to alcohol and eyes is Amblyopia. This is a gradual phenomenon which causes the eyes to lose color over a long duration of time. Eventually, the eyes get almost blind, and the eyesight is irrevocably lost. The lens sits behind the colored part of your eye, called the iris.