Key takeaways

  • Current studies suggest that drinking moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol may increase your risk of developing macular degeneration, as well as worsen existing early stages.
  • It’s not clear if cutting back on alcohol consumption could help prevent early AMD. However, decreasing alcohol use can have a positive effect on your overall health and wellness.
  • Consult with a healthcare professional if you have an increased risk of AMD, an AMD diagnosis, or are otherwise concerned about your alcohol intake. They can advise you on any next steps.

Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is an eye condition that impacts visual sharpness (acuity).

Getting older is one risk for this condition. Others are lifestyle factors, such as diet and alcohol consumption.

While a causal relationship between drinking alcohol and AMD has yet to be determined, research suggests that alcohol consumption — heavy drinking, in particular — is associated with worsened AMD.

According to a 2021 research review of seven past studies, any link between alcohol and AMD may be dependent on the amount of alcohol consumed and the stage of AMD. The review suggests that:

  • Moderate to heavy drinking may worsen early AMD, but light drinking may not have a significant impact.
  • No amount of alcohol consumption may significantly impact the late stages of AMD.
  • Daily or moderate to heavy alcohol consumption may increase the risk of early AMD.

Another randomized study from 2021 also found a link between heavy alcohol consumption and late-stage AMD. But this study notes a higher risk in those with genetic predispositions who had 2.7 drinks or more per week.

The same study also indicates a potential link between alcohol and photoreceptor atrophy, an irreversible breakdown of the delicate tissues beneath the retina in the eye, part of late-stage AMD that leads to permanent vision loss.

Aside from AMD risks, a 2021 research review discusses other potential effects of alcohol consumption on your eyes, including:

Some medications for AMD may interact with alcohol, which can lead to serious health effects. Make sure you understand the contraindications of your medication and whether it includes avoiding alcohol.

It’s not clear if alcohol avoidance or limitation will prevent early AMD. And no current research has proven that it helps in the late stages of AMD.

Limiting or avoiding alcohol might help prevent early AMD from worsening, as recent research has linked the habit to the disease, but it may not reverse it once you have it, particularly once in late-stage.

Speak with your doctor about the safety of drinking alcohol based on whether you’re considered at high risk for developing AMD. Such risk factors include:

Alcohol use and other health conditions

Some of the above risk factors for AMD, such as hypertension, have also been associated with excessive alcohol use.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines excessive alcohol use as more than 8 drinks per week for women and more than 15 for men. Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as 1 drink per day for women and 2 per day for men.

If you have AMD and are concerned about your alcohol intake, consider speaking with a doctor. Quitting alcohol can be difficult, but a doctor can help you build a cessation plan.

They may recommend a combination of the following strategies:

  • setting goals
  • tracking how much you currently drink
  • counting and measuring drinks
  • avoiding triggers, such as stress or social drinking
  • finding alternatives to alcoholic beverages
  • behavioral therapy or peer support

You can also try slowly lowering the number of drinks you consume in a week over time instead of quitting cold turkey.

Having AMD does not mean you need to avoid alcohol.

Whether you should avoid alcohol largely depends on the stage and type of AMD and how much you drink. Other risk factors, such as smoking and genetics, may also play a role.

Besides alcohol, consider speaking with your doctor or an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) about other lifestyle habits that may worsen AMD. These include:

  • smoking
  • eating a diet high in saturated fats
  • consistent or unprotected sun exposure to the eyes

AMD is not reversible, and there’s currently no cure. Treatment aims to help prevent AMD progression while also preserving central vision.

A doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, such as eliminating alcohol consumption, and treatments like AREDS2 nutritional supplements for intermediate dry AMD and anti-VEGF injections for active wet AMD.

While AMD is not reversible, it’s important to take steps to help prevent its progression and possible vision loss. This includes treatments as well as lifestyle changes.

Consuming alcohol is one such lifestyle consideration. Research suggests that drinking moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol may increase the risk of AMD development and progression.

If you’re concerned about drinking and your eye health, consider speaking with a doctor about ways you may be able to limit your intake.