When your liver isn’t working as it should, it can cause high levels of this substance. Dehydration is a biggie when it comes to dry skin, puffiness, and management of skin conditions like psoriasis or rosacea. Drinking too much alcohol enlarges blood vessels in your face, resulting in facial redness and changes in skin tone and texture. Alcohol intoxication can cause the eyes to become dry and subsequently glassy in appearance.

Long-Term Effects: A Deeper Look

Light consumption of alcohol probably won’t have any lasting effects to your eyes but excessive and heavy drinking could potentially damage your eyesight. Explore the structured journey of addiction recovery with our comprehensive guide to rehab. Before the headache starts, many people experience a debilitating visual aura.

So far, we’ve seen that “alcoholic eyes” can refer to a range of symptoms, each related to alcohol’s extensive impact on the body. Possible treatments include corrective lenses or glasses to correct blurred or distorted vision and use of eye drops to address bloodshot eyes. As with water retention in the face and body due to the dehydrating effects of alcohol, the feet can also become swollen and discolored due to excessive alcohol abuse.

1. If you find yourself squinting or closing your eyes frequently due to discomfort, it’s a sign that alcohol is affecting your ocular health.
2. Limiting alcohol intake can help maintain proper color vision and avoid these potentially hazardous misinterpretations.
3. Moderate drinking is defined as a single drink or less per day for women and 2 drinks or less per day for men.
4. Tackling alcohol abuse isn’t just about stopping the drinking; it’s about understanding why the drinking started in the first place.

Take the First Step Towards a Healthier Life

Due to conflicting evidence on the role alcohol may play in chronic vision conditions, more research is necessary to clarify the long-term effects of heavy alcohol use on the eyes. If you are asking these questions, it may be because someone has told you that you have changes to your eyes or even called them alcoholic eyes. Many people recognize those changes to the liver and kidneys that are common, but they may not know much about what alcohol can do to the eyes themselves. The most significant thing you can do to prevent alcoholic eyes is to reduce your alcohol intake and monitor your alcohol consumption. Track the amount of alcohol units you’re drinking, and make appropriate changes. Light drinking, however, doesn’t appear to have much impact, and drinking alcohol isn’t thought to impact the late stages of AMD.

The more alcohol consumed, the more pronounced these effects can become. While these symptoms can be temporary for individuals who consume alcohol in moderation, excessive drinking can lead to long-term eye damage and vision problems. It is very common for people who have this condition to find themselves unsure of what to do to fix it. Your first step is to visit your doctor to discuss your treatment options. Be sure to provide your doctor with insight into your alcohol consumption. There may be treatment options available for some people that can relieve many of the symptoms you have.

When you’re dehydrated, that can show up on your face in the form of dry, flaky skin, more visible signs of aging, or flare-ups of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Alcoholic face is a broad way to describe facial changes from excessive drinking. Redness, discoloration, and a puffy face are all obvious signs that it may be time to cut back on alcohol. Physical signs of drinking can be some of the first telltale signs of a drinking problem. An estimated 14 million adults meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder in the U.S. Individuals struggling with an AUD may not realize the level of irreversible damage being done to their body over time.

Importance of Addressing the Root Cause of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects the body and mind in various ways. Prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on multiple organ systems, including the eyes. The best thing you can do to alleviate eye-related symptoms caused by alcohol consumption is to cut back on drinking or eliminate alcohol altogether. Light to moderate alcohol consumption should not have a lasting impact on your vision. However, in the short-term, even one drink can have negative effects on the eyes (e.g., dry eyes). The long-term effects of alcohol on your eyes can seem daunting and sometimes feel irreversible, but it’s important not to panic.

Alcoholic Eyes: Can Alcohol Affect Your Eyes?

You can get rid of puffy face from alcohol by drinking water, getting plenty of rest, and applying a cold compress to puffy areas. Binge drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks for women or 5 or more drinks for men on one occasion. Heavy drinking is defined as 8 or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men. If you or someone you know is abusing alcohol, entering an inpatient or outpatient rehab program for substance abuse may also be recommended.

Ptosis occurs when the muscles responsible for lifting the eyelids become weakened, causing them to appear droopy. Drinking alcohol when you’re already experiencing dry eye for other reasons can add the effects of alcohol to your existing symptoms. If you already live with a dry eye diagnosis, drinking alcohol may make your symptoms worse.

When people use the term, they are often referencing Does Alcohol Dehydrate You Symptoms and Prevention Tips eyes that are bloodshot, watery, puffy or swollen, droopy, or irritated. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse, reach out for help today. 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.