Meth is a central nervous system stimulant and an addictive substance that can lead to a severe substance use disorder when abused. While it is available by prescription under the brand name Desoxyn, people who abuse meth are using a street version of the drug. Crystal meth found on the street can contain a wide variety of dangerous substances, including household chemicals like drain cleaner.
Meth users might smoke, swallow, snort, or inject the drug. Abusing meth can lead to a variety of effects, including increased energy, euphoria, fast heart rate, increased blood pressure, and more. The longer you use it, the more likely it is that you will develop meth addiction.
Meth users could develop a wide range of adverse long-term effects, including heart complications, severe dental problems (meth mouth), gum disease, high blood pressure, mental health issues, and more. One of the less known long-term effects of methamphetamine addiction is something referred to as “meth eyes.”
When you abuse meth, it can lead to serious eye problems, including dilated pupils, dry eyes, blurry vision, tighten blood vessels in the eye, light sensitivity, and a condition called retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD) that could lead to permanent vision loss. To improve your eye health, you should stop methamphetamine consumption and receive help from an addiction treatment program.
In this article, you will learn:
What you will learn:
- What are the effects of meth?
- What does meth do to your pupils?
- What does “meth eyes” mean and what does it do to your eyes?
What are the Effects of Meth?
Meth causes increased activity in your central nervous system, which means it speeds your body up. It can cause a wide range of physical and psychological effects, including euphoria, increased energy, and more.
The common effects of meth include:[1]
- Heightened energy
- Lessened need for food and sleep
- Euphoria and pleasure
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Dilated pupils
- Increased body temperature
- Excessive sweating
- Feelings of anxiety or panic
- Chest pains
- Irritability and paranoia
- Aggressive or violent behavior
- Substance-induced psychosis (symptoms may include delusions, visual hallucinations, and a detachment from reality)
Repeated methamphetamine use can cause a dangerous cycle of addiction. If you struggle with meth addiction, you should seek help from a drug rehab program. At PAX Memphis, we can connect you with an addiction treatment center that will support you throughout the entire recovery process.
What Does Meth Do to Your Pupils?
One of the telltale signs that someone is on meth is dilated pupils. When you smoke, snort, inject, or swallow meth, it causes your pupils to appear incredibly large. Some people might describe them as looking like saucers.
Dilated Pupils
Chronic meth use causes your pupils to dilate because it increases dopamine in your brain. The dilation can last for several hours and is often hard to conceal from friends and family members.
What Happens to Your Eyes When You Do Meth? Understanding Crystal Meth Eyes
While the psychological aspects of meth addiction can be severe, abusing this drug can also impair your vision and cause declines in eye health. Knowing how methamphetamine use can impact your eyes might motivate you to seek help from a professional rehab center.
Meth eyes is a term used to explain the long-term effects of meth on your eye health. Meth can cause the following ocular consequences:
Discharge and Dryness
Meth abuse can cause your eyes to become very dry, one of the first signs of meth eyes. Dryness can occur because stimulants cause the body to become dehydrated.
That said, it is also possible for your eyes to develop discharge. If you have discharge in your eyes after using meth, it might be due to Keratolysis, a condition characterized by the dissolution of the corneal stroma. According to UC Irvine, “Smoking stimulants are associated with this pattern of ocular injury.”[2]
Glassy or Glossy Appearance to the Eyes
Meth causes heightened stimulation, which can lead to a variety of physical symptoms. One of those signs of meth eyes is caused by this stimulation, which leads to a glassy appearance of the eyes. The glassy or glossy appearance might make it look like you’ve recently cried.
Red or Bloodshot Eyes
Meth causes your retina’s blood vessels to dilate. As a result, the white parts of your eyes might become red or bloodshot. While tons of drugs can lead to bloodshot eyes, eye redness could be a sign of meth abuse.
Unfortunately, blood vessels in the eyes that are frequently dilated can lead to other issues down the road. For example, when your blood vessels are constantly dilated, you could develop eye health conditions like neovascular glaucoma.
Rapid and Involuntary Eye Movements
Because meth is a stimulant, it causes increased activity in every area of your body, including your eyes. If your eyes have a jittery or twitchy appearance, it might be caused by involuntary and rapid eye movements.
Rapid eye movements are frequently associated with crystal meth eyes. If you have pupil dilation, glassy or red eyes, and twitchiness or an inability to stop looking around, that is a telltale sign that you’ve been abusing meth.
Increased Risk of Retinal Vascular Occlusive Disease (RVOD)
While rapid eye movements can be annoying, they are not the worst side effect you could experience from abusing meth.
Meth causes blood vessels throughout the body (including in the eyes) to constrict, or narrow. This limits blood supply and oxygen delivery to eye tissues. Chronic meth use can lead to blood clots in the eyes that prevent proper blood flow, which is a condition known as RVOD.
The signs of RVOD include:[3]
- Blurred vision, double vision, or severe vision loss
- Blind spots that impair vision
- Floaters or dark spots in your vision
- Pain or pressure in your eyes
If you’ve been experiencing blurred vision, decreased vision, or blocked blood flow in the eyes after long-term methamphetamine use, you might need to see an eye specialist to determine if you’ve developed RVOD. You are at a higher risk of getting this condition if you have glaucoma or diabetes.
Other Ways Meth Can Impair Vision and Impact Eye Health
Meth use can be very damaging to eye health. In addition to the above-listed problems, it may also cause:
- Ischemic optic neuropathy
- Methamphetamine-associated retinopathy
- Optic disc edema
- Acceleration of other underlying conditions, such as glaucoma
Get Connected to a Meth Addiction Treatment Center: Early Intervention is Key
Meth use, especially for an extended period, can lead to an increased risk of addiction, life-threatening overdoses, eye issues like vision loss, and a decline in overall health. To avoid severe complications of substance abuse, like vision loss, you should seek help from a drug rehab center.
Whether you suffer from meth use or another form of substance abuse, PAX Memphis can help you find an addiction treatment center that suits your needs. We will provide you with an in-depth assessment that helps us connect you with a rehab program that specializes in the type of care that is right for you.
Contact us today for more information on how we can help you recover from meth eyes, vision loss, and other long-term risks associated with meth addiction. Early intervention and overcoming addiction can prevent you from experiencing the severe physical indications of meth abuse.
References:
- Science Direct: Methamphetamine: Effects on the brain, gut, and immune system
- UC Irvine: Keratolysis Associated with Methamphetamine Use – Incidental Diagnosis of Corneal Melt in a Patient with Acute Methamphetamine Intoxication
- MDPI: Risk Factors and Treatment Strategy for Retinal Vascular Occlusive Diseases