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What Do Drunk Eyes Look Like? Signs, Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment
Alcohol is known to cause many health complications in many different parts of your body. Studies now show that alcohol also is a contributing factor to the development of ocular diseases.
Read on to learn more about drunk eyes and the effects of alcohol on your vision. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, getting treatment immediately is paramFount to your recovery and health.
Where You’d Be Staying
Alcoholic Eyes: How Alcohol Consumption Affects the Eyes
Alcohol can lead to many negative effects on your body. From liver complications to vomiting, alcohol intoxication is often not a pleasant experience. One way alcohol affects you is by causing short-term vision problems and potential long-term eye disease or vision complications [1].
Short-Term Effects
Short-term effects on your eyes from alcohol are common. This is because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, causing disturbances in your body and brain communication. Your vision could become impaired while you are intoxicated, including the following effects:
- Blurry vision
- Impaired color perception
- Abnormal eye movement
- Sensitivity to light
Long-Term Effects
Drinking alcohol often or long-term can cause long-term complications with your vision and eye health. The following are potential long-term effects:
- Chronic dry eye
- Migraines
- Chronically bloodshot eyes
- Doubled vision or distorted vision, caused by a reactionary delay between the eyes and the brain
- A decrease in your pupil’s ability to dilate, which might affect your ability to see and properly react to light and colors
- Early onset macular degeneration, which could lead to vision loss or blindness
- Toxic amblyopia or nutritional optic neuropathy, which leads to loss of vision
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Struggling with addiction? We can help.
Symptoms of Alcoholic Eyes
Alcoholic eyes can vary in appearance, but the most common signs of alcoholic eyes are puffy eyes, dry and glassy eyes, and bloodshot eyes.
Puffy Eyes
Puffy eyes are characterized by swelling underneath the eyes, on the eyelids, or both. Because alcohol is toxic, it may cause inflammation in your body. This is what causes puffy eyes after drinking. If you are wondering how to get rid of puffy eyes after drinking, you can try applying a cold compress to your eyes to help the swelling subside.
Glassy Eyes
Glassy eyes are a common sign of alcohol intoxication. This occurs because alcohol depresses the central nervous system, slowing down reflexes, including blinking—less blinking leads to dry eyes, creating the telltale glassy appearance.
Bloodshot Eyes
Alcohol is a vasodilator, which causes dilation of your blood vessels. When this happens, there is an increase in blood flow, making vessels more apparent. This is why drinking alcohol can lead to bloodshot eyes.
Drunk Eyes vs. Normal Eyes
There are many ways to tell if someone is sober or drunk, including coordination and speech. However, you may also be able to tell by looking at the person’s eyes. Drunk eyes often look different than normal eyes.
Characteristics
Drunk eyes can look bloodshot, glassy, watery, or puffy.
Other common characteristics include:
- Droopy eyelids
- Slow pupil reaction
- Blank stare
- Unfocused eyes
If you are the one with drunk eyes, you may experience blurry vision, double vision, or an impaired sense of light and color.
When to See a Doctor
If you experience persistent vision issues like chronic dry eye, blurry vision, or sensitivity to light for hours or even days after drinking, it could be a sign of long-term damage. Symptoms like bloodshot eyes, frequent migraines, or difficulty adjusting to light could indicate underlying conditions such as optic neuropathy or macular degeneration. If these issues persist or worsen, seek medical attention immediately.
Additionally, if alcohol consumption is interfering with your daily life or leading to dependence, consulting a healthcare professional or addiction specialist can help determine the best course of action for recovery.
Recognizing the Signs of Alcohol Addiction
Alcoholism, alcohol addiction, and alcohol use disorder all have the same symptoms, which include:
- Inability to limit alcohol consumption
- Unsuccessful attempts to cut down on drinking
- Spending excessive time, energy, and money on obtaining, drinking, or recovering from alcohol use
- Frequent cravings for alcohol
- Drinking in inappropriate situations, such as at work or school
- Having more than five drinks in one sitting or exceeding 15 drinks per week, as defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [2]
Get Comprehensive Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Gratitude Lodge
Gratitude Lodge is renowned for its work in alcohol addiction recovery and substance abuse treatment. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, turn to Gratitude Lodge.
Gratitude Lodge eagerly extends compassion, empathy, and a wide variety of treatments to help you achieve a sustained, fulfilling recovery from alcohol addiction.
Our alcohol addiction treatment involves:
- Customized treatment plans
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Regular group beach days and other adventure therapy options
- Aftercare and an extensive alumni network
Get the treatment you need and get your life back.
Contact us today at 844-576-0144 to explore what Gratitude Lodge has to offer. We accept insurance and provide a free insurance check!
Sources
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8126742/
[2] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/moderate-binge-drinking#:~:text=Heavy%20Alcohol%20Use%3A,or%20more%20drinks%20per%20week
