BOKISSONTHRONE: ALCOHOL and YOUR EYES by Dr. Obomon Taiwo

Friday, May 20, 2016

ALCOHOL and YOUR EYES by Dr. Obomon Taiwo

What exactly does alcohol do to our eyes?

And can alcohol abuse cause permanent problems to your sight?

Can alcohol consumption really affect an unborn child?

The effects of alcohol on the eyes are in 2 stages:

Short Term Effects:

•Slower pupil reaction–Alcohol causes the iris to constrict and dilate at a much slower speed. This becomes an issue for drivers who have been drinking as they cannot adapt as quickly to oncoming headlights.

•Decreased contrast sensitivity–Being able to make distinctions between different objects based on lightness and darkness, a very important ability when driving at twilight, is impaired by alcohol.

•Eye twitching–Eye twitching (myokymia), which is actually the eyelid twitching, can be triggered by excessive alcohol intake.

•Increased dryness–It has been suggested that consuming even a small amount of alcohol can increase and exacerbate symptoms of dry eye.

Long Term Effects include:

•Increased cataract formation–Multiple studies have shown increased cateract formation in patients with higher alcohol consumption.

•Increased risk of AMD- Excessive alcohol intake has been found to be as a risk factor for AMD (age-related macular degeneration).

•Decreased vision due to vitamin deficiency–Heavy drinking affects the absorption of vitamins in the liver, vitamins needed to maintain healthy eyesight such as vitamin B-1 deficiency due to alcohol consumption can cause a weakness or paralysis of the eye muscles. Or a vitamin A deficiency due to alcoholism can cause: night blindness, thinning of the cornea, corneal perforation, dryness, and even blindness due to retinal damage.

•Tobacco-alcohol amblyopia (Optic neuropathy)- People who drink excessively can develop this condition which results in a painless loss of vision.

•Prenatal alcohol exposure–Unfortunately, excessive exposure to alcohol in the womb can permanently affect the eyesight the baby. Studies have shown that many eye problems are associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome including underdevelopment of the optic nerve, difficulty with eye coordination, and the tendency for eyelids to droop.

The short term effects have a tendency to go away on their own. However, if you suspect you are having symptoms of the long term effects, then book an appointment with your eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) for your eye exams.

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