How Alcohol and Drugs Can Affect Vision and the Eyes

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​Drug and alcohol use can have an adverse effect on your health. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol use over time can increase your risks of various diseases, such as liver disease, high blood pressure, and digestive problems.

Alcohol and drug use can also have both short-term and long-term effects on the eyes. Chronic use of drugs and alcohol can have a significant impact on your overall health, including your eyes. If you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or alcohol, treatment is available that can help. 
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How Does Drug or Alcohol Use Affect the Eyes?

Drug and alcohol use impact the central nervous system. It can affect the way the brain processes images or affect the eye muscles themselves. Plus, long-term use of drugs or alcohol can lead to other health conditions that increase your risk of eye diseases.

Some eye changes are temporary and resolve when the substance use has stopped. Other eye problems can become serious. Below are some possible ways alcohol and drugs can affect the eyes:

Changes in eye movement patterns: Alcohol use can affect the way your eyes move. One study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS one involved young adults. The study participants had their eye movements tracked using the Tobii TX300 Eye Tracker while sober and again with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. The results indicated that moderate levels of alcohol change eye movement patterns. A change in eye movement patterns may affect everyday activities, such as driving.

Blurred vision: Both drugs and alcohol can slow the communication between the eyes and the brain, which may lead to blurred vision. What can happen is the substances may affect the way the eye muscles work together, which leads to changes in vision.

Red eyes: Both drug and alcohol use can lead to red eyes. The drugs or alcohol may dilate the vessels in the eyes, which makes them appear redder.

Dry eyes: Certain substances, such as alcohol, are dehydrating and may lead to dry eyes. Other drugs may have the opposite effect and cause the eyes to water excessively.

Changes in pupil size: Certain drug use may cause a change in pupil size. For example, opioid use may lead to pinpoint pupils. Other types of drug use may lead to dilation of the pupils. Alcohol use also affects your pupil reaction time. It can lead to a slowed or delayed response, which affects how quickly you adapt to light changes.

Yellowed eyes: Continued use of alcohol or drugs, such as stimulants or opioids, can lead to liver damage. Liver damage may cause jaundice, which involves a yellowing of the whites of the eyes along with the skin.

Keratitis: Keratitis involves inflammation of the cornea, which can be a result of crack or cocaine use. The condition may lead to corneal perforations or ulcers and damage vision.

Optic neuropathy: Chronic drug and alcohol use can be toxic to the body. It can eventually cause damage to the optic nerve leading to optic neuropathy and vision loss. 
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Substance Abuse Treatment 

Having an occasional alcoholic drink is probably not going to harm your eyes, but chronic alcohol abuse or drug use can lead to long-term eye problems. Substance abuse treatment can help. A variety of approaches are available, including inpatient treatment facilities, 12-step programs, and outpatient recovery treatment.

Medications are sometimes helpful in getting through withdrawal side effects. Behavior therapy, as well as support groups, may also be useful. Many times, a combination of the above treatments is most effective.

If you or someone you know has a problem with substance abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration is an excellent resource to point you in the right direction for treatment options. You can also talk with your doctor about treatment facilities in your area.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call our office at 508-746-8600.