Meth Eyes – The Effects of Meth on The Eyes

What is Meth Eyes?

Meth eyes, also known as crystal meth eyes, refers to a wide range of signs and symptoms linked with meth abuse. When you look into the eyes of a meth user, you will typically see yellowing of the eyes, dilated pupils, and increased visibility of the blood vessels in the eyes. While someone with meth eyes may not show all of these signs, two or more of these signs are a good indication that the person is probably abusing meth.

These are typically the signs of a person who is either currently high on meth or someone who has very recently come down from a meth high. Once meth wears off, many of the short-term symptoms of eyes on meth go away. However, regular meth users will have to deal with serious long-term effects, as well as the possibility that some of these symptoms may remain for a long time. For instance, many individuals who have abused meth for years have semi-permanent or permanent yellowing of the eyes and enlargement of the blood vessels in the eyes.

What Does Meth Do to Your Eyes?

Among the more serious effects of meth abuse is
severe corneal ulceration which can lead to permanent
visual defects including, but not limited to, decreased
visual acuity. A recent study suggested that the severity of corneal scarring in meth users may vary according to inconsistent street purity of the drug as well as variable routes of administration. The route of administration of meth has also been associated with other pathological findings as well. Intravenous injection, intranasal inhalation, and smoking the drug remain the two most common methods of bodily entrance.

The intranasal route of drug administration has injurious effects on the eye’s intrinsic vascular structures. In fact, intranasal ingestion of meth can place an individual at increased risk of central retinal artery occlusion with resultant vision defects. Furthermore, a patient using intranasal meth may develop intraretinal hemorrhages as well as other retinal
vascular manifestations.

The drug’s ability to inflict ruinous vascular damage is not confined to the vascular structures of the eye but can also affect vital neurovascular structures throughout the central nervous system (CNS). For instance, continued meth use has been implicated in massive hemorrhage in the cerebral ventricles, a clinical situation associated with elevated mortality.

Skip To:

• Meth Eyes – The Effects of Meth on The Eyes
• What is Meth Eyes?
• What Does Meth Do to Your Eyes?
• Short-Term Effects of Meth on Eyes
• Long Term Meth Effects on Eyes
• What Do Your Eyes Look Like on Meth?
• Does Meth Make Your Eyes Red?
• What Does Meth Do to Your Pupils?
• How To Tell If Someone is Using Meth?
• What Does a Meth Head Look Like?
• Getting Help for Meth Addiction

Learn More:

• What Does Meth Look Like?
• Meth Effects
• Amphetamine vs Methamphetamine
• Meth Pipe
• Meth Sores
• Meth Mouth
• Faces of Meth
• Meth Addiction Treatment
• Dangers of Crystal Meth

2.6 million4

In 2020, 0.9%, or around 2.6 million people, reported taking methamphetamine in the p

Source: NIDA

1.5 million

A methamphetamine use problem in the previous 12 months affected a projected 0.6% (or 1.5 million) of individuals aged 12 or older in 2020.

Source: NIDA

Long Term Meth Effects on Eyes

Unfortunately, some of the adverse health effects of meth do not go away when you stop using the drug. This can bring many challenges to your health care. With regards to eyes on meth, crystal meth can cause:

Crystalline Retinopathy: refractile deposits in the retina that can disturb your vision. With meth users, the crystals are often yellow, causing an overall yellowing of the eyes. However, yellow crystals in the eyes can also occur with age, so it is not a definitive sign of meth abuse on its own.

Retinal vascular occlusive disease: blockages of arteries to your retina which decrease or stop blood flow to that part of your eye, causing nerve damage that is often permanent. When it is caused by meth, the onset of retinal vein occlusion is often much faster, which can lead to more serious complications arising over a shorter time span. Can meth make you go blind? The most common result is partial or complete blindness. While this condition can be treated to prevent or delay blindness, it will still result in symptoms like red eyes, large red patches near the retinas, and enlarged veins in the eyes.

These effects of meth use can often be in addition to other known physical and mental effects, such as high blood pressure, skin sores, and weight loss.

How To Tell If Someone is Using Meth?

When someone is high on meth, they may display these mental and physical signs:

• Mouth Sores – Many people addicted to meth may choose to dissolve the drug in water to inject it. This is especially common with advanced meth users. As meth becomes water-soluble, it escapes the body through our pores like sweat. 
•  Premature Aging – Meth has also been linked to the development of certain aging-related diseases, including coronary artery atherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and liver steatosis (fatty liver disease). Recent research has found that meth can cause cellular aging and inflammation, factors that may contribute to these problems.
• Skin Acne – The most common effect of meth on the skin is acne lesions. Since acne can be easily noticed and obvious, it’s no wonder why many people have been linking meth to acne breakouts. People who use meth, especially those who binge on the substance, don’t feel the need to drink as much water as people who don’t take meth. This is why their skin tends to get dehydrated.
• Meth Eyes – Methamphetamine causes the pupils of your eyes to be dilated (become larger).  Dilation of the pupils is usually the result of methamphetamine dramatically increasing dopamine in the central nervous system.
• Meth Mouth – Meth mouth is a term used to describe the visible effects of oral disease in an individual who uses meth (short for methamphetamine) because of the widespread tooth decay that often happens with the drug’s use. People who use meth may have stained, blackened, broken, or rotting teeth, both due to side effects of the drug itself and related lifestyle factors.

What Does a Meth Head Look Like?

Meth head is a methamphetamine addict (referred to as a “tweaker.”) Meth heads are known for their extreme paranoia, flagrant dishonesty, and lack of non-methhead friends. A meth head will steal your stuff and help you look for it. This is a stereotypical definition of a meth head.

Others say that “Meth Head” is used by law enforcement and those out there who have no clue what using meth is like and therefore have no first-hand knowledge of what meth does to the human mind and body. They use the term only to label meth users. It’s the same as calling a group of young men with baggy pants on thugs, or a group of young men with their heads shaved skinheads.

Just because someone has sores on their face doesn’t mean they use meth, that person has probably never used a day in their life, and their skin irritation can be caused by cancer, eczema, a bacterial infection, or allergic reaction.

Some people automatically think they must be on meth because they have messed up teeth. Wrong again. Bad teeth stem from genetics and or bad personal hygiene, and just because you see someone with bad teeth doesn’t mean they are on meth.

Your “typical” meth head likes to get high and often smokes throughout the day. They never stay in one place for too long because they are always on the go. They house surf and carry a backpack with all their worldly belongings. They will sell whatever they have to get a pipe load and appear dirty because they are constantly working on something, whether it be their bicycle or rewiring their car stereos.

Medically Assisted Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated withdrawal process but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient drug rehab helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can give the necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy 

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 

If you or a loved one is struggling with crystal meth smoke addiction or a high-functioning meth addict, call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Your call is private and confidential, and there is never any obligation. The We Level Up NJ treatment center network offers nationwide facilities. Connect with one of our rehab specialists.