Alcoholism and Yellow Eyes: Is This a Serious Side Effect?

Severe alcoholic hepatitis can indicate cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), the final stage of liver diseases, which can be life-threatening. Yellowing of the eyes is a sign of alcoholic hepatitis, a condition that can develop as a result of alcoholic liver disease. Alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis are severe medical conditions, which can be life-threatening. Anyone who develops yellow eyes from drinking is in grave danger and should consult a doctor or another qualified healthcare provider immediately. Early intervention and treatment are crucial to prevent further liver damage and other severe health complications. If a person develops yellow eyes from drinking, this can be a sign that they have advanced alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for alcoholism.

This weight loss often appears more dramatic than would be expected from short-term food avoidance, indicating that liver dysfunction is affecting overall metabolism. The eyes show jaundice first because the thin, translucent tissues of the sclera (the white part of the eye) readily display color changes that might not yet be visible in thicker skin. This makes yellow eyes an early warning system that liver function has become critically impaired. Noticing yellow eyes in yourself or a loved one can be a scary experience. For some, this can be a deciding factor for them seeking alcoholism treatment.

Yellow eyes, medically known as jaundice, can be alarming and often signal underlying health issues. Not all liver damage will be easily identifiable which is why many people won’t realize how damaged their liver is until it’s too late to reverse it. Being aware of these small symptoms can make a big difference in if you’re able to prevent permanent damage to your body. However, if the problem is diagnosed early enough and the person quits drinking, the body may begin to repair itself. Dietary changes may help, and certain medications can reduce some inflammation.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on Eye Health?

Unlike the viral versions of this disease, alcoholic hepatitis results from chronic alcohol abuse. Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis can include fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and yellow eyes from drinking. This scarring is the result of the liver attempting to repair prior damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Eventually, this scar tissue will prevent the liver from functioning as it should. One of the earliest signs of alcoholic liver disease is jaundice, which is characterized as yellow eyes from drinking alcohol, and may indicate serious liver damage. As the detoxification process takes place, a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde is produced.

There exist certain associations with physical issues and alcohol abuse. More importantly, is it something that you should be concerned about if you or a love one exhibits these symptoms? Let’s examine the relationship between alcoholism and yellow eyes as well as how it might pertain to liver issues that cause jaundice. Treating alcoholic hepatitis requires rehabilitation under the supervision of medical professionals for anyone with an alcohol use disorder. You may have concerns if you’ve noticed yellowing to the whites of your eyes or yellowing of your skin after periods of heavy drinking. These are both symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis and should not be ignored.

In more advanced cases, medical treatment or hospitalization may be necessary. Recovery also includes adopting a liver-friendly lifestyle balanced nutrition, avoiding toxins, and regular medical follow-up. A doctor will likely perform blood tests to check liver function and bilirubin levels, and may order imaging studies to look for liver or bile duct issues. There are many facilities available here in Oregon that are dedicated to your health and long-term recovery. They provide you with a full continuum of care and ongoing support so you can reach your healing goals.

• Yellow eyes occur when a substance called bilirubin builds up in the blood and deposits in tissues like the whites of the eyes and skin.
• This selective food aversion reflects the liver’s inability to produce the enzymes and bile needed for proper digestion.
• For example, if you develop yellow eyes from alcohol, that could indicate that your liver has already incurred substantial damage.
• Anyone who experiences this symptom should seek immediate medical attention.
• Complications can be severe, including hepatic encephalopathy, kidney failure, and coma.

Worried About Alcoholic Hepatitis? Get Help Today

Instead, it may continue deepening until medical intervention addresses the underlying liver dysfunction causing bilirubin accumulation. Bile is a naturally occurring fluid in our bodies as we digest and process the various things we consume in a day. Normally, our liver is responsible for the bile being sent out of the body. If our liver isn’t functioning properly, the bile then builds up and leads to the noticeable yellow tinting of the eyes and skin, otherwise known as jaundice. What many don’t realize is that alcohol use can influence vision, and even increase your risk of developing a vision impairment. At San Antonio Recovery Center, we often get questions about alcohol and its common side effects.

Understanding Alcoholic Jaundice

In this blog, we’ll explore the connection between alcohol consumption and yellow eyes, what causes this condition, and what you should do if you notice this symptom. Yellow eyes, specifically related to the whites of your eyes, are also a condition that can stem from alcohol use. If someone has yellow eyes, they’ll also have a yellow tint to other parts of their body like their skin and the beds of their nails.

What are the Common Symptoms of Alcoholic Eyes?

Similar to jaundice, these optical defects can also indicate an underlying health issue due to advanced alcoholism. As liver damage progresses, the organ’s ability to process bilirubin decreases, potentially causing jaundice and yellowing of the eyes. If you notice someone with yellow eyes, it’s prudent to seek medical help immediately. It usually takes several years of heavy alcohol abuse for a person to develop liver disease. However, by the time a person realizes that their drinking has harmed their liver, it may be too late to reverse the effects.

Finally, cirrhosis occurs if the other two stages are left untreated and alcohol consumption continues. Cirrhosis shares many of the same symptoms as alcoholic hepatitis, with some symptoms becoming more noticeable or intense. The next stage, alcoholic hepatitis, is unrelated to infectious hepatitis and is strictly caused by long-term exposure to alcohol in your liver.

The critical importance of immediate medical attention

Heavy drinking and excessive alcohol consumption can lead to inflammation of the liver and fatty liver disease. When someone has alcoholic hepatitis, they may notice yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice) when they drink alcohol. Pinnacle Peak Recovery has been working to educate the public on topics surrounding alcohol and substance use disorders. Our proven process for treatment has helped many find their success in recovery.

• Alcohol abuse can put a person at risk for a broad scope of serious health concerns.
• While this condition is overall benign, it’s the first step into worsening liver damage.
• Her unique combination of education and experience allows her to provide exceptional care to clients and lead her team with confidence.
• If left untreated or if you continue drinking alcohol, symptoms can worsen.
• When scar tissue builds from constantly filtering alcohol toxins, that part of the liver will no longer be able to function.

This compensation mechanism indicates that liver dysfunction has reached levels where normal processing pathways are insufficient. The liver performs over 500 vital functions in the human body, from filtering toxins to producing essential proteins and storing energy. When alcohol overwhelms this crucial organ, it begins a cascade of cellular damage that eventually manifests as visible symptoms throughout the body.

Alcohol use, both short-term and long-term, impacts your health in many ways. Most people, when thinking about alcohol use, picture liver damage and brain damage as the two biggest concerns. This underscores the importance of never ignoring symptoms such as yellowing eyes or skin. Consumption may worsen a person’s prior diagnosis or increase the chance of developing a serious eye disease. Liver failure often triggers a complete loss of interest in food, with the sight or smell of meals causing revulsion rather than hunger.

The liver plays a vital role in processing everything a person consumes. Prolonged heavy drinking inflames the liver, impairing its ability to metabolize bilirubin and other substances. Yellow eyes are one of several symptoms of an inflamed liver, indicating serious liver damage. If a person develops yellow eyes from drinking, this can indicate advanced alcohol use disorder, also known as alcoholism.

What are the implications of alcoholic jaundice for overall liver health?

The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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. At Dove Recovery, we offer luxury outpatient programs that support a successful recovery journey. Alcohol increases the production of free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage the protein in eyes yellow after drinking the lens.