Drinking alcohol and Macular Degeneration.

[Garfield33]

Hello good people,

Have any of you given up drinking because of MD. Dad said that he shouldn’t because of his liver. When I spoke to Dr about him she said everything was fine, blood, liver etc. Just wondered.

Thanks.

[Retired130]

I have had wet MD in my right eye & dry MD in my left eye for about 5 years. I have been getting a shot in my right eye for about 5 years. At first Avastin every month, but that stopped working after 15 months, so from that time to the present, I have been on Eylea every 6 to 7 weeks. I only drink socially, usually 2 beers with a meal once or twice a week and rarely, a mixed drink like a Margarita instead of a beer. My retina specialist, who gives me the shots, has told me that just drinking socially with a meal once or twice a week is ok & I have not had any problems doing so at this level of drinking alcohol for the 5 years I have had wet MD.

[Garfield33 in reply to Retired130]

Thanks for your reply. I’m thinking that maybe the problem might be that he had drinks with a friend and they went to his head and was a bit drunk. Which I can understand it could be a problem with MD. Also he’s got colitus, too. Maybe, the combo.

[Penelopeflower]

Hello, Garfield33, I certainly have not heard of any medical advice not to drink alcohol at all with amd, I just have the occasional glass of wine, as in all things moderation is the key to safeguard one's general health of course. Best wishes.

[Garfield33 in reply to Penelopeflower]

Thanks for your reply.

[StokeySue]

My understanding is that there is no known specific link between alcohol and macular disease, though the better your general health the better your retinal health. So drinking within normal guidelines doesn't seem to be contraindicated, One of the ophthalmologists I see is a wine drinker, and seems to assume that I am too, so I am certainly not being warned off

[Rosalyn-helpline Partner]

Dear Garfield33,

It is a case of looking after your general health, which can then potentially have a positive impact on your general eye health. There are no particular concerns about alcohol, though for your general health, as others have said, it would be a case of drinking in moderation.

Kind regards,

Rosalyn

Macular Society Advice and Information Service 0300 3030 111.

[e-mail]

[Garfield33 in reply to Rosalyn-helpline]

Thanks for your reply. As it turns out, found out this week, he’s been on antibiotics for about 3 weeks. It would have been really useful to be given the heads up and ease any worry!! Parents !! 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[ironbrain]

From near teetotal, in about November 2019, I took to taking a glass or two of wine (red, white, ginger, mead) with my main meal most days. This continued until this year, more specifically until a few months ago, when I decided that as much as I liked the wine, I didn't need the calories. My last Eylea injection was the end of March 2020, but I've an appointment tomorrow following my last check up "indicating treatment may be necessary". It's crossed my mind that the stress and tension releasing effect of the alcohol may be helpful, but I gather that c. 500 days quiescence after a last injection is about average.

The nutritional advice given in past hospital letters includes avoiding "excess alcohol intake and red meat consumption".

From what I've read, I believe there's evidence that alcohol is bad for dry AMD but none for wet AMD (in moderation presumably).