Alcoholic Eyes: Recognizing the Signs and Healing Through Recovery

In some cases, bloodshot eyes may not be the most apparent sign of alcoholic eyes. Yet, upon closer observation, you may notice large, spider-like blood vessels expanding over the whites of one’s eyes. This too is an indication of alcohol abuse, especially among more functioning alcoholics that may not give off an immediate impression of alcoholism.

We also understand the importance of having a strong support network through recovery. Severe cases of alcoholic hepatitis that lead to scarring of the liver can be irreversible and life-threatening and can lead to liver cancer. The presence of alcoholic jaundice signifies that the liver is inflamed and unable to perform its crucial functions effectively.

• This symptom is exacerbated when the individual experiences loss of appetite due to liver damage.
• Possible consequences include significant weight gain, bloating, dull grey skin, bloodshot eyes, dry and thin hair, and reddening around the nose and cheeks.
• Aside from stopping alcohol consumption, it’s essential to maintain a balanced diet and adapt dietary changes to support liver health.
• This weight loss often appears more dramatic than would be expected from short-term food avoidance, indicating that liver dysfunction is affecting overall metabolism.
• Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options.
• Exposure to toxins, such as alcohol, can permanently damage the optic nerve and impair a person’s vision.

This short-term effect impacts cognitive function and other visual distortions. With prolonged use, alcohol-induced cognitive impairment can have permanent optical damage. These long-term damages consist of near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and other vision problems depending on bodily compensations and responses. Stopping alcohol now prevents damage such as the aforementioned visual impacts from occurring as well as other more life-threatening health problems.

This initially takes the form of increased fat in your liver, but over time it can lead to inflammation and the accumulation of scar tissue. When liver damage has happened due to alcohol, it’s called alcohol-related liver disease. While this effect is more common among those under the influence, this visual distortion can occur anytime for alcohol-addicted individuals. This occurs as a withdrawal symptom, though alcohol can cause permanent damage otherwise related or not related to blurred vision. Thankfully, there are highly effective detox programs to help you overcome these difficult and sometimes scary withdrawal symptoms. Consult a physician to determine the underlying cause of your alcohol-induced vision distortion.

When the eyes have turned yellow from excessive drinking, it is a sign that the liver is inflamed. Inflammation does not always signify a chronic condition, but it does indicate that the liver is not functioning to the best of its abilities. If not addressed, inflammation can lead to permanent damage and scar tissue. As scar tissue builds up, the liver will no longer be able to process and filter out toxins.

How to Stop Addiction Replacement

This buildup occurs because damaged liver cells can no longer effectively break down and eliminate this waste product, causing it to circulate throughout the body. Jaundice and the other symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis can be frightening. However, if alcoholic liver disease is diagnosed early and hasn’t progressed to cirrhosis and the final stage of alcoholic liver disease, the damage may be reversible. By abstaining from drinking alcohol and making dietary changes, the liver can begin to repair itself. If left untreated or if you continue drinking alcohol, symptoms can worsen.

Yellow Eyes from Alcohol

When bile within our body isn’t processed as it should be, it can build up in the bloodstream, leading to a yellow-tint. This slowed reaction time, in combination with loosened and less responsive muscles, is the primary source of alcohol’s impact on your eyes and your vision. Through long-term alcohol use, you are at increased risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and more. Healthcare providers may prescribe medications like corticosteroids as they help reduce liver inflammation, particularly in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. Since malnutrition is common in people with alcohol-related liver disease, medical professionals recommend dietary changes, such as a high-calorie and protein-rich diet. One of the common symptoms of advanced liver disease is liver failure, which can cause ascites or fluid buildup in the abdomen and swelling in the legs and feet.

Are Yellow Eyes from Drinking Alcohol?

Alcohol consumption can have a variety of effects on your body, some of which can be quite serious. One of the more alarming symptoms that can occur after excessive drinking is turning your eyes yellow, known medically as jaundice. This symptom often indicates liver damage or disease, which can be exacerbated by chronic alcohol abuse. While jaundice is always the cause of yellow eyes, alcoholism and liver damage aren’t the only sources of jaundice. Jaundice can occur to anyone, at any age, due to a variety of health conditions.

Progressive yellowing that deepens over time

You might also experience fatigue, abdominal pain, and unintended weight loss. Adopting dietary changes like eating balanced meals and avoiding high-fat foods can benefit your liver. Regular exercise and weight loss can help manage fatty liver disease and improve overall health. Doctors often begin by addressing the underlying liver condition causing jaundice. Abstinence from alcohol is crucial, as continued drinking worsens the liver damage.

Let’s break down the different stages and symptoms that come along with liver damage due to long-term alcohol use. Going to rehab can help you end your alcohol abuse and learn how to live a sober lifestyle. Unfortunately, rehab doesn’t guarantee that you will be able to reverse the effects of alcoholic hepatitis. That depends on several factors, including the extent of the damage that you have already incurred and the type of treatment you receive. Once they understand what has caused their eyes to become yellow, many people wonder if alcoholic jaundice will go away.

Even if this occurs, it is still important that the person quits drinking, as that can prevent them from advancing to the cirrhosis stage. But if you drink heavily over an extended period of time, the effects of this behavior can include a yellowing of the sclera, which is the part of the eye that surrounds the iris. Early diagnosis of liver problems can make a big difference in outcomes. If you or a loved one notice yellowing of the eyes, especially with a history of alcohol use, seek medical evaluation promptly. It’s not safe to try and determine the source on your own without the capabilities and tests that medical professionals can provide.

Stephanie’s joy comes from witnessing the moments when her patients creatively connect the dots and bravely move toward reclaiming their power. Her purpose is to help individuals understand their past so they can create a future full of hope, growth, and success. Stephanie attributes a large portion of her success to the supportive culture and strong sense of community fostered by the Agape team. Sanctuary Treatment Center accepts most private PPO insurance plans, as well as some private HMO plans. Through private insurance plans, individuals and families can access high quality addiction treatment services.

Liver failure caused by alcohol addiction leads to gastrointestinal concerns, which may cause nausea and vomiting. Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox. LA Detox is a trusted source of life-affirming care for adults who have become dependent on alcohol.

• Yellow eyes from drinking alcohol can be a sign of a serious, potentially fatal, health problem.
• The presence of alcoholic jaundice signifies that the liver is inflamed and unable to perform its crucial functions effectively.
• Detox professionals can offer both medical and therapeutic support to help people rid their bodies of alcohol and other drugs.
• This results in bilirubin buildup leads to its accumulation into the skin and whites of the eyes, causing them to turn yellow.

Our blog serves as a free resource for parents and loved ones of those living with an alcohol use disorder. Today, we will be discussing alcoholism and yellow eyes, and what they mean for your loved one. Over time, the liver cells get damaged, leading to fatty deposits, inflammation, and scarring — all of which hinder its ability to process bilirubin. Understanding this symptom’s significance and responding appropriately can mean the difference between recovery and irreversible liver failure. Excessive alcohol consumption and heavy drinking are leading causes of alcoholic liver disease, which can lead to severe complications if left untreated. Like viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis also involves impaired liver functioning due to an inflammation.

Excessive alcohol consumption or long-term alcohol abuse can accelerate this process, resulting in alcoholic liver disease and other complications. Alcoholic hepatitis is eyes yellow after drinking the second of three stages of alcoholic liver disease. These conditions are caused by the strain that heavy drinking places on the liver. As this damage worsens, the ability of your liver to filter toxins from your bloodstream will diminish.