Yellow Eyes from Alcohol

Alcohol abuse can put a person at risk for a broad scope of serious health concerns. In many cases, considerable harm can occur before a person begins to exhibits symptoms. For example, if you develop yellow eyes from alcohol, that could indicate that your liver has already incurred substantial damage.

Does Drinking Alcohol Cause Eyes to Turn Yellow?

Having an occasional drink won’t cause your eyes to turn yellow. 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. 

Yellow eyes from alcohol, which is usually accompanied by a yellowing of the skin, is often referred to as alcohol jaundice. As we will discuss in greater detail in the next section, this can be a sign that a person’s alcohol use has damaged their liver. 

Alcohol jaundice isn’t one of the criteria for alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). But if a person’s drinking has reached the point that it is causing demonstrable physical harm, this is probably a sign that they have developed alcoholism. 

What Does it Mean When Your Eyes Turn Yellow from Drinking?

Yellow eyes from alcohol is a sign of a serious health problem. 

When a person drinks alcohol, their liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing the drug so that it can be safely eliminated from their body. During this process, alcohol is briefly converted to a toxic substance called acetaldehyde, which is then turned into acetate before finally being broken down into water and carbon dioxide.

Even limited exposure to acetaldehyde can be harmful to the liver. The more a person drinks, the greater this harm can become. Liver damage due to alcohol intake typically occurs in three stages:

1. Steatotic Liver Disease

This first stage may also be referred to as hepatic steatosis or simply steatosis. It was previously known as fatty liver.

Every time the liver breaks down alcohol, some liver cells die in the process. When a person’s alcohol use overwhelms their liver’s ability to generate new cells, a buildup of fat begins to accrue in the organ. This can occur quickly. Even a few days of heavy drinking can trigger the onset of steatosis.

At this stage, some people may feel abdominal pain or fatigue, but most will have no symptoms. The good news is that the damage associated with fatty liver is usually reversible if a person quits drinking.  

2. Alcoholic hepatitis

If a person continues to drink excessively after reaching the steatotic liver disease stage, they are at risk of progressing to alcoholic hepatitis. 

Yellow eyes from alcohol usually means a person has reached this stage, which involves an inflammation of the liver. Other potential signs of alcoholic hepatitis include tenderness in the midsection, appetite loss, fever, nausea, vomiting, and more persistent fatigue. 

Unfortunately, some people may reach this stage without developing symptoms, which can allow continued damage to occur undetected.

If a person stops drinking during the early development of alcoholic hepatitis, their liver may be able to repair itself. However, as alcoholic hepatitis becomes more severe, it will reach a point at which the damage will become irreversible. 

Even if this occurs, it is still important that the person quits drinking, as that can prevent them from advancing to the cirrhosis stage. 

3. Cirrhosis

The third and final stage of alcoholic liver damage is cirrhosis. The onset of cirrhosis often involves symptoms such as:

• Yellowing of the eyes and skin
• Stronger abdominal pain
• Unintentional weight loss
• Muscle cramping
• Pervasive weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sexual dysfunction

As cirrhosis becomes more severe, symptoms can include:

• Confusion and disorientation
• Memory problems
• Disrupted sleep
• Bleeding in the lungs, esophagus, and stomach
• Swelling in the ankles and feet
• Visible blood vessels (spider veins)
• Impaired muscle control
• Disrupted menstruation
• Intense itchiness
• Darkening of the urine
• Blood in vomit or feces

The scarring that occurs at the cirrhosis stage is permanent. With effective medical care and certain lifestyle changes, a person may be able to prevent the damage from becoming worse.

Left untreated, cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer and liver failure, both of which can be fatal.

Can You Treat the Yellowing of the Eyes from Drinking Alcohol?

Alcohol-related yellowing of the eyes can be reversed if a person takes appropriate action before their liver damage progresses to an untreatable level. 

The first step in addressing alcoholic jaundice is to stop drinking. 

For people who have developed alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcohol addiction) this can be extremely difficult. But it is essential. Continuing to expose the liver to alcohol will only worsen the damage, which in turn will cause more intense symptoms and more severe health effects.

For people who have been drinking heavily for a long time, attempting to abruptly stop can trigger the onset of several distressing, and potentially dangerous, withdrawal symptoms. To ensure that a person can get through alcohol withdrawal without further compromising their health, a detoxification program may be the ideal first step.

Detox professionals can offer both medical and therapeutic support to help people rid their bodies of alcohol and other drugs. Then, once the patient has completed this vital step, their detox team can help them determine what type of follow-on treatment will best prepare them for long-term recovery.

Alcohol withdrawal isn’t easy – but when you get the help you need, you can escape the downward spiral of compulsive drinking and begin to build a foundation for a much healthier and more hopeful future.

Contact Los Angeles Detox to Start Treating Alcoholism Today

LA Detox is a trusted source of life-affirming care for adults who have become dependent on alcohol.

When you choose our detox program in Los Angeles, California, you can expect to receive customized services and personalized guidance from a team of skilled and compassionate professionals. We will assess the full scope of your needs, help you set realistic and achievable short- and long-term goals. Finally, we will develop a customized plan just for you.

When you’re ready to get started, the LA Detox team is here for you. To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.