As fun as it may be to have a few drinks with friends, we all know that drinking too much alcohol has negative effects on our health. We all know about hangovers, but what about the effects that drinking may have on our eyes? We’re not here to preach about alcohol consumption (hey, even your favorite optometrist probably enjoys the occasional glass of wine), we’re here to simply give you a better understanding of how alcohol affects your eyes.
The good news is that consuming moderate amounts of alcohol will not have any real effects on your eyes. Remember, the operative word here is “moderate”. If you consume a bottle of beer (or three) here and there, you may experience temporary blurry vision that will go away as soon as the effects of alcohol wears off and that’s about it.
However, if you consume large quantities of alcohol often, then that is a completely different story. Repeated episodes of heavy drinking can have serious consequences for your eyes in the long term that may not show up immediately even after an eye exam.
Drinking a lot of alcohol over a long period of time can cause damage to the brain that may impair your eyesight. In fact, it is not unheard of for heavy drinkers to develop permanently blurred or double vision. Alcohol can also decrease your ability to see contrast in colors and alter your peripheral vision. Migraines are also common for heavy drinkers and may be accompanied by severe sensitivity to light and other vision-related problems.
Whether you need to get fitted for new contact lenses or would like to come in for concussion therapy, the trusted optometrists over at Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry have got you covered. To set up an appointment, please feel free to give us a call at (703) 660-9494, or fill out our contact form to set up your consultation today. We serve patients in Arlington, VA, as well as its neighboring communities.
