Glassy Eyes From Alcohol Abuse - Addiction Resource

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answered by Treatment X Evidence Based Glassy Eyes From Alcohol Abuse Written by Elise Altonen, LLPC Medically Reviewed by Johnelle Smith, M.D.

Updated on November 4, 2025

Alcohol intoxication can cause the eyes to become dry and subsequently glassy in appearance. This can also be a sign of alcohol abuse, which is when someone regularly and heavily drinks alcohol in a way that is harmful to their health.

ON THIS PAGE:
  • What Causes Glassy Eyes?
  • What Else Can Alcohol Do To Eyesight?
  • How To Identify Alcohol Abuse
  • Alcohol Abuse And Dependence
  • Treatment For Alcohol-Induced Vision Problems
  • Show More
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Alcohol causes the eyes to look glassy, glazed over, or unfocused. This typically happens when someone is drunk or intoxicated. The glassy-eyed look is one of the most noticeable physical signs that someone has been drinking. In fact, physical changes like glassy eyes are often the first clue that someone might have a drinking problem.

Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug in the United States. About 14 million American adults struggle with alcohol use disorder, which means their drinking has become a serious problem that affects their health and daily life. While glassy eyes might seem like a harmless or temporary effect of drinking, they can actually signal deeper issues. The glassy appearance shows that alcohol is affecting the brain and nervous system.

When someone drinks heavily over a long period of time, the damage goes beyond just looking drunk. Chronic alcohol abuse can cause serious, permanent eye problems. Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of developing glaucoma, a disease that damages the optic nerve. It can also lead to vision loss and involuntary eye movements where the eyes twitch or move on their own. What starts as temporarily glassy eyes after a night of drinking can eventually turn into lasting damage that affects a person’s ability to see clearly for the rest of their life.

What Causes Glassy Eyes?

Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. The central nervous system, composed of the brain and spinal cord, regulates basic regulatory functions such as blinking.

If you’re blinking less often or blinking very slowly, this can cause the eyes to become dry, which may lead to a glassy appearance. Glassy eyes are a common symptom of intoxication and the use of drugs like marijuana (cannabis).

What Else Can Alcohol Do To Eyesight?

Glassy eyes are only one symptom of alcohol intoxication. Some people who drink may also develop red or bloodshot eyes or experience blurred or double vision. Alcohol abuse, which refers to a pattern of excessive drinking that is harmful to health, can cause even worse problems. Chronic alcohol abuse has been linked to a whole host of issues affecting the eyes, as well as virtually every other system in the body.

Visual problems associated with heavy drinking include:

  • increased risk of cataracts
  • rapid eye movements
  • age-related macular degeneration
  • glaucoma

Over time, heavy drinking may weaken the muscles in the eyes and impair optic nerves. This can affect eye movement, ability to see color, and potentially cause full or partial vision loss.

Ocular Conditions From Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Drinking while pregnant is ill-advised, as this may influence the development of a range of physical and behavioral conditions associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. According to research, people that are born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) may benefit from receiving systematic eye examinations to screen for ocular issues.

Although there isn’t a clear consensus on the association between FAS and vision problems, some research has found optic nerve hypoplasia (underdevelopment of the optic nerve) present in up to 61 percent of people with FAS.

How To Identify Alcohol Abuse

Simply drinking alcohol isn’t a sign of alcohol abuse by itself. Moderate, or acceptable drinking levels, are defined as drinking up to one drink a day for women and up to two for men.

Signs of alcohol abuse may include:

  • heavy drinking
  • binge drinking
  • drinking during the day
  • constantly thinking about alcohol
  • being unable to reduce how much you drink
  • experiencing alcohol withdrawal
  • continuing to drink alcohol despite negative effects on health

Alcohol abuse can generally be described as drinking in a way that is harmful to physical or mental health, such as drinking excessively or drinking very often to get drunk, self-medicate, or reduce stress.

How Alcohol Abuse Can Lead To Dependence

When someone drinks heavily over time, their body becomes physically dependent on alcohol. This means the body adapts to having alcohol present and starts to need it to function normally. The person develops strong cravings throughout the day and feels like they must drink, not just want to drink. At this stage, stopping becomes extremely difficult even when they recognize the harm it’s causing.

Physical dependence traps people in a cycle of drinking. If they try to stop or go too long without alcohol, withdrawal symptoms kick in. These can include shaking, sweating, severe anxiety, nausea, and in serious cases, seizures. The symptoms are so uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous that many people drink again just to make them stop.

Without professional help, breaking free is nearly impossible. Continued heavy drinking damages the entire body including the eyes, liver, heart, and brain, while destroying relationships and careers.

Treatment For Alcohol-Induced Vision Problems

People who are experiencing vision problems as a result of your drinking should talk to their doctor about recommended treatment options. Some vision problems may be reversed or managed with treatment. If you or someone you know is abusing alcohol, entering an inpatient or outpatient rehab program for substance abuse may also be recommended.

Alcohol rehab programs can offer therapy, medical care, and behavioral support to help address the underlying causes of your drinking and provide supportive coping strategies for a healthier and happier future.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff

This page does not provide medical advice. See more Article resources

Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.

These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.

  • U.S. National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA)—Drinking Levels Definedhttps://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-drinking-patterns
  • U.S. National Library of Medicine: NCBI—Ocular manifestations of drug and alcohol abusehttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4545665/
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