Along with liver, breast, and pancreatic cancer, alcohol abuse also increases the risk of skin cancers list of foods that contain alcohol such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. We spoke to Dr. Bart Kachniarz from Belcerna Plastic Surgery in Miami about skin-related side effects of alcohol abuse and how they can be treated, if at all. Additionally, prolonged alcohol use can eventually lead to tolerance, which means that the person will need to consume higher amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effects.
Bloodshot eyes, or red eyes, is one of the most common telltale signs of a heavy drinker. Bloodshot eyes are a result of extreme dilation of the blood vessels on the surface of the eye, called the sclera, resulting in a red tint, which is caused by heavy drinking. Drinking alcohol once in a while won’t cause serious damage to your eyes, although depending on the amount consumed, an individual may experience blurred vision, double vision, and/or dizziness. This usually subsides over a short amount of time once a person stops drinking.
Treatment for alcohol-related physical symptoms
Acne – Alcohol abuse reduces the body’s ability to process vital nutrients and vitamins that the skin needs to remain healthy. Over time, this can lead to impurities in pores and can cause aggressive acne. Our experienced medical professionals, clinicians, and therapists use evidence-based practices to provide compassionate care and support throughout each client’s journey to sobriety. If you or someone you know is exhibiting these signs, it may be time to seek professional help for alcohol addiction. Continued alcohol abuse not only has harmful effects on the body but also on one’s overall well-being and relationships.
Jaundice – Also a common by-product of liver disease, jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and sclera (the whites) of the eye. Some alcohol abusers suffering from jaundice will also experience darkening of the skin around the eyes, mouth, and legs. Alcohol can cause blood vessels in the eyes to dilate, which can make them more visible and cause the eyes to look reddish. Additionally, alcohol abuse can cause dehydration, which can also contribute to redness and dryness of the eyes. The potential long-term issues relate to changes to the eyes’ structures or the communication between the eyes and brain. These effects may be more permanent and can include reduced vision, migraine headaches, sensitivity to light, and even blindness.
In the short term, this can have a dehydrating effect, leaving the eyes dry and irritated. In fact, dry eyes is a common complaint among drinkers, and chronic alcohol abuse can lead to the development of dry eye syndrome. Alcohol-related physical symptoms can vary in how well they can be treated and how permanent the effects are. Inflammed blood vessels, rashes, sagging eyes, and odor issues can all be eased or eradicated through reduced alcohol consumption and medical treatment. Others, such as jaundice caused by liver disease and skin cancer are less treatable and are often a sign of end-stage alcoholism. Additionally, ongoing support and guidance are provided to minimize the risk of relapse and promote long-term recovery.
From there, alcohol can cause the blood vessels in your eyes to swell, which leads to bloodshot eyes. Moreover, bloodshot eyes can be a sign of more serious complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and addiction. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that causes the central portion of the retina, or macula, to wear down. Heavy consumption of alcohol can cause damage to the retina and increase the risk for AMD. The calories contained in alcohol are commonly referred to as ‘empty calories’, meaning they hold no nutritional value for the body. This means the body adds these calories onto the ones consumed via food every time we drink, which can often put people way over their calorie limit if they drink excessively.
Once a person recovers from intoxication, their vision should return to normal. Additionally, drinking alcohol can change the way that your eyes respond to natural light and other stimuli. And if your eyes do not adjust to changing light correctly, you might not be group activities for recovering addicts fully aware of your surroundings.
Comprehensive Residential Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction and experiencing symptoms like alcohol eyes, we are here to help. Please contact us to learn more about our programs and how we can support you on your journey to recovery. Keep reading to learn more about how alcohol and eyesight are related and how to avoid complications from alcoholic eyes. Alcoholic eyes are a term used to describe the physical appearance of a person’s eyes after consuming alcohol. The most common visible signs include redness, bloodshot eyes, and dilated pupils.
Therapies Used in Alcohol Addiction Treatment
These include worsening mental health, changes in behavior, turning to drugs or alcohol to “cope” with stress, and having withdrawal symptoms whenever you are not using or drinking. If you have ever experienced eye pain after drinking alcohol, you might already know some of the ways in which this substance can be dangerous toward your body. The combination of alcohol and eye pain is an indicator that something is not quite right. Fortunately, most short-term signs of alcoholic eyes and eye pain after drinking should improve as the body rebounds from alcohol exposure.
For example, excessive drinking can lead to permanent damage to the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. At Pathways Recovery Center, our healthcare professionals are experienced in diagnosing and addressing these serious health issues. This comprehensive approach helps our clients regain not just their eye health but also enhances their quality of life after quitting alcohol cold turkey and overcoming alcohol dependency. If you do have any of these signs of a substance use disorder as well as alcoholic eyes, you could be at risk of losing your eyesight, your health, and your happiness. The only proven way to prevent alcoholic eyes and all of the effects of alcoholism is to seek out addiction treatment as soon as possible.
Possible long-term effects on eyes
Heavy drinkers or people who have an alcohol abuse disorder are at a much higher risk for lasting eye damage. Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is another indicator of liver disease and is most commonly caused by alcohol use disorder. The symptoms of PCT include fragile skin, blistering, photosensitivity, crusts, milia (small white bumps), scleroderma (hardened skin), erosions, and hypertrichosis (increased hair growth).
- Our experienced medical professionals, clinicians, and therapists use evidence-based practices to provide compassionate care and support throughout each client’s journey to sobriety.
- Even small changes can help reduce a person’s risk of developing issues with their eyes or other aspects of health.
- The combination of alcohol and eye pain is an indicator that something is not quite right.
- Acne – Alcohol abuse reduces the body’s ability to process vital nutrients and vitamins that the skin needs to remain healthy.
These symptoms are not only signs of recent alcohol consumption but may also indicate more chronic alcohol-related health issues. Specifically, individuals consuming between 8 to 16 standard drinks per week were found to have a 4.49 to 8.14 times higher risk of high IOP compared to non-drinkers. Learning about the short- and long-term effects of alcoholic eyes—and addiction in general—can leave a lot of people feeling hopeless. But rest assured that our team is here to help you to get back on your feet so that you can clearly see the bright future that lies ahead. 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.
Optic neuropathy can also develop as a result of accidental methanol poisoning. In some cases, methanol poisoning can occur as a result of drinking homemade alcohol or moonshine. Law enforcement officers assess several alcohol-induced changes to the eyes when performing a field sobriety test on a suspected impaired driver. Unfortunately, most cases of optic neuropathy are diagnosed after a possibility of recovery, meaning most cases of optic neuropathy are permanent and irreversible.
These side effects can tom arnold weight loss be both temporary and long term, and they range in severity. There are many vital vitamins a person is deprived of when consuming large quantities of alcohol. Alcohol weakens the immune system and disrupts DNA repair, potentially increasing skin cancer risk. Research suggests a link between heavy drinking and various skin cancers, though more studies are needed to define precise risk ratios.
Also referred to as tobacco-alcohol amblyopia, people who drink or smoke in excess can develop optic neuropathy, though it is rare. Studies have shown that vision loss can be a result of a nutritional deficiency, and some professionals believe that the condition develops because of the toxic effects of alcohol and tobacco. Short-term effects may result from intoxication, which people often describe as “being drunk.” This occurs when alcohol affects the central nervous system. A person can become intoxicated even with moderate drinking and may experience temporary disturbances to their vision. In addition to these physical signs of alcoholism, be sure to watch out for the other symptoms that come with addiction.
