All of us know that alcohol can harm our bodies, what do you know about its effect on your eyes? Consuming alcohol can alter your vision temporarily, and give you bloodshot eyes. The long term effects of drinking, however, can also be permanent. Here is what you need to know about the effect of alcohol on your eyes.
Even “social drinkers” are at risk of developing long-term health issues, and research has now shown that no amount of alcohol consumption is to be considered safe. While most of recognise the risks involved in binge drinking and alcoholism, we must realise that even the regular nightcap can have a deleterious effect on our bodies. Read on, to know about these significant long-term eye and vision related problems because of alcohol consumption.
Temporary Effects of Alcohol on Eyes
Impaired peripheral vision
Alcohol can impair your peripheral vision. This may cause tunnel vision, thus making your driving dangerous.
Impaired pupillary reactions
Your pupillary reactions may become sluggish, thus they don’t constrict or dilate properly. This makes your vision blurred, and even causes sensitivity to light. You may get dazzled under headlights.
Decreased Contrast sensitivity
Alcohol impairs the the ability of the eyes to adjust for brightness and contrast. Therefore, the perception of light and shadow becomes abnormal, and also making depth perception much more difficult.
Dry eyes and eyelid twitching
Alcohol causes short-term inflammation in the eyes. This results in redness, or blood shot eyes. This also causes dry eyes, which feel uncomfortable and scratchy. You may also experience eyelid twitching, or myokymia.
Double vision
Drinking alcohol also sometimes causes double vision. This may or may not be accompanied by migraines and light sensitivity.
Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Eye
Over time, regular alcohol consumption can increase your risk of developing cataract. It can also cause a more rapid progression of the cataract.
You may also experience a permanent blurring of vision. Weakening of the eye muscles can also cause double vision.
Optic neuropathy, or swelling of the optic nerve is a very serious, sight threatening long term complication. If unchecked, this can lead to optic atrophy, and permanent vision loss. In fact, tobacco-alcohol amblyopia is a specific disease caused by excessive smoking and drinking. It causes a painless loss of vision, along with decreased peripheral vision. It also results in impaired colour vision, as well as contrast sensitivity.
Alcohol can also aggravate diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. All of these can damage the eyes, resulting in bleeding, swelling, and blockage of blood vessels. This can result in permanent damage to your eyes and vision.
Contact your doctor
If you have any questions about your eye and vision health and are struggling with alcoholism, please do contact a healthcare professional. Help is always at hand to help you stop drinking alcohol. In case of vision related issues, your eye doctor will help you with a solution for your specific symptoms. She will also encourage you to give up drinking, and refer you to someone who can help you kick the habit.
