Michael Healy

Although the negative health effects of drinking alcohol have been well established, nearly 65% of U.S. adults continue to consume alcoholic beverages on a regular basis. Considering there is a direct correlation between health issues and the amount of alcohol consumed, the issue becomes more concerning knowing that over 25% of U.S. adults report binge drinking (having six or more drinks in a sitting) in the last month.

One of the serious, but rarely discussed, alcohol-related health issues is the effect drinking has on vision and overall eye health. In fact, regular consumption of alcohol has been directly associated with a number of serious short and long-term vision issues that range from blurred vision to damage to the optic nerve resulting in permanent vision loss.

More than 7 million Americans currently live with some form of vision loss. Another 94 million adults are at risk for serious vision loss, according to the CDC. Expanded globally, the number of people considered to be visually impaired is estimated to be over 2.2 billion. 

Considering that people are living longer, experts expect these numbers to increase in the coming years.

While vision loss and vision issues are expected to some degree, especially with age, it doesn’t mean everyone is willing—or able—to accept a change to how they see the world.

For most people, gradual changes in vision can be addressed with prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses.

On the other hand, vision changes—especially when they happen rapidly and are not able to be corrected with glasses or contacts—are often difficult to accept, and, for many, it takes a significant toll on their emotional and mental health.