When this happens, you may have blurred vision or double vision due to weakened eye-muscle coordination. Take the time to let your body recover and get back into its normal rhythm. This can help improve overall eye health and reduce any vision disturbances.

It can cause blood vessels to dilate, which can alter blood flow to various organs, including the eyes. This disruption in blood flow can further contribute to blurry vision during a hangover. Blurry vision during a hangover is often a result of dehydration and changes in blood flow. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and leads to fluid loss. This dehydration can affect different parts of the body, including the eyes.

Alcohol consumption can weaken these muscles and impair their ability to move the eyes smoothly and accurately. This can cause the eyes to struggle to focus on objects, leading to blurred vision. But long-term alcoholism can cause nutritional deficiencies (such as B12 and folate deficiency) and gut absorption issues. Both of these can lead to the development of nutritional optic neuropathy over time.

Taking breaks from activities that strain the eyes, such as reading or using electronic devices, can also be beneficial. While alcohol alone can lead to blurry vision, the question is whether the use of alcohol or substances during a hangover can worsen this symptom. If you or a loved one need support to cut back or stop drinking alcohol, get in touch with your GP. Learn the eye-related side effects of antidepressants, such as dry eye, dilated pupils, blur, eye twitch, and, less commonly, acute angle-closure glaucoma. Drinking large amounts of alcohol may temporarily but significantly increase the size of your pupils, though effects can vary from person to person. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate the effects of alcohol on your vision, there are steps you can take to minimize its impact.

Double vision, blurry vision and drinking

The doctor can help diagnose an underlying condition and provide appropriate treatment. This article reviews how alcohol can affect vision, the possible short- and long-term effects, treatments, and more. Excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect the eyes, leading to rapid eye movement, double vision, and potential blindness. Additionally, alcohol can also affect the muscles that control the movement of the eyes.

However, the damage enabling definition psychology is near permanent at this point, and symptoms will progress with continued alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption can speed up the onset of macular degeneration, which deteriorates the central part of the retina. This condition severely affects central vision, crucial for reading, driving, and facial recognition. It poses a significant risk, especially for older adults, impacting essential daily activities and overall quality of life. Those who drink alcohol regularly might find themselves reaching for eye drops more often.

1. 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.
2. Low to moderate alcohol consumption may prevent some eye diseases such as central retinal vein occlusion (RVO), the blockage of eye veins.
3. Researchers have noticed that heavy drinkers are likelier to have low levels of protective nutrients such as zinc and vitamins (B12 and folate).
4. Individuals with pre-existing health issues, such as liver damage, kidney disease, migraines, diabetes, or poor vision, may experience more severe impacts from alcohol on their eyesight.
5. Certain substances, such as caffeine, can have a temporary positive effect on blurry vision during a hangover.
6. In the short-term, overconsumption of alcohol can result in blurry or double vision.

Is blurry vision a common symptom of a hangover?

Occasionally drinking moderate amounts of alcohol doesn’t usually cause any health problems. But if you are a heavy drinker—which means consuming alcohol more than a few times per week or binge drinking—you will likely experience health issues as a result. It is hard to predict whether you will develop effects that harm your liver, heart, nerves, or eyes, and you can experience a combination of these.

Risks of Long-Term Excessive Drinking

On the other hand, chronic alcohol consumption will negatively affect the entire body. For example, if you notice the whites of the eyes are turning yellow, this is actually not an eye condition. Rather, this is a liver issue called jaundice which may indicate alcoholic hepatitis or inflammation of the liver.

Heavy drinking can lead to long-term effects on the eyes that can range in severity from rapid eye movement to vision loss and blindness. In addition, it may have a toxic effect, which can lead to the development of conditions that impair vision. To relieve blurry vision caused by a hangover, it’s important to rehydrate your body. Drinking water or a rehydration solution can help alleviate the dryness in your eyes and improve vision. Applying lubricating eye drops can also provide temporary relief and make your vision less blurry.