7 Ways Excessive Drinking Can Cause Vision Problems

Dr. Hans is a 2003 graduate of The New England College of Optometry. He received his bachelors degree from the Pennsylvania State University in 1999. Dr. Hans strives to provide the absolute best possible care to all his patients.

What does it feel like?

In addition, symptoms could include nausea, vomiting, confusion, stiff neck (more so for meningitis), or seizures (more so for encephalitis). The symptoms of visual migraine can be similar to those of a stroke or serious eye emergency, such as retinal detachment. A person should contact a doctor promptly if they develop severe vision changes so that they can get an accurate diagnosis. Steps like having some protein and fat with your sweets might help you evade a sugar hangover if you don’t have diabetes, so you can quite literally have your cake and eat it, too. Better yet, if you know there’s, say, a certain sugar-themed holiday coming up and you want to partake safely, ask your doctor for guidance on how to do just that.

Why does dehydration caused by a hangover lead to blurry vision?

Talk with your healthcare professional if you’re concerned that frequent heavy drinking may lead to serious problems, such as alcohol withdrawal. A hangover is a group of unpleasant symptoms https://theillinois.news/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ that can happen after drinking too much alcohol. As if feeling awful weren’t bad enough, frequent hangovers also are linked with poor performance and conflict at home, school and work.

• In some instances, however, delayed short term effects can be symptomatic.
• You may consider first reaching out to a doctor, as they may be able to help determine your medical needs and possibly refer you to treatment centers.
• Like migraine with aura, calcium channel blockers help prevent retinal migraine from returning.

New or severe headache without trauma

The answer may depend on the specific substance being consumed. Because your reaction time is slowed when you drink, so are your eyes. So, if you go from a dark room to a light room or vice versa, you’d have a lot of trouble adjusting to the new lighting.

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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 Sober House harm your liver, heart, nerves, or eyes, and you can experience a combination of these. If you drink excessively, be sure to see a healthcare professional so you can get help cutting down before the effects on your health get worse. Fortunately, there are several ways to alleviate blurry vision during a hangover.

• In conclusion, blurry vision during a hangover is a common symptom caused by dehydration and changes in blood flow.
• Sports injuries, car accidents, or overexertion of the neck caused by lifting heavy items, can put strain on the neck muscles and lead to a heavy head feeling.
• Additionally, the researchers behind a 2016 study note that they observed an increased risk of ischemic stroke in those who experience migraine headaches with visual aura.
• Alcohol consumption can weaken these muscles and impair their ability to move the eyes smoothly and accurately.
• While many people may attribute blurry vision solely to the effects of alcohol on the body, there are other factors that can contribute to this unpleasant symptom.

Is blurry vision a common symptom of a hangover?

• There are slight differences in how quickly or slowly different people metabolize alcohol, but the physiology of a hangover is very similar between one person and another.
• Meniere’s disease is a type of vestibular disorder that affects the inner ear.
• According to one 2021 article, some researchers believe that when the arteries of the retina narrow, the reduced blood flow causes visual symptoms.
• If you drink excessively, be sure to see a healthcare professional so you can get help cutting down before the effects on your health get worse.

At first, this can be beneficial, making you feel relaxed as your blood pressure is lowered. Most of the time you just need to drink water, eat some food, and walk it off. But if you’ve had too much to drink, you may be harming your body and need to see your doctor for treatment.

How Can I Minimize My Risk of Vision Problems?

The best way to prevent blurry vision and other hangover symptoms is to drink alcohol in moderation or abstain from drinking altogether. Alternating alcoholic beverages with water and eating a balanced meal before drinking can also help mitigate the effects of alcohol on the body. Certain substances, such as caffeine, can have a temporary positive effect on blurry vision during a hangover. Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor, meaning it constricts blood vessels, which can counteract the vasodilating effects of alcohol. This temporary constriction of blood vessels can alleviate blurry vision for a short time. However, it’s important to note that caffeine is a stimulant and can exacerbate other hangover symptoms like anxiety or headache.