Stress can affect your vision: An expert shares the symptoms to look out for (Image credit: iStock)
Many people now often carry stress with them in today’s fast-paced society. Stress is known to have negative effects on our physical and mental well-being, but did you know that it can also significantly affect your vision? According to experts, stress can have a significant impact on the eyes, resulting in a variety of symptoms and disorders that can affect vision. Therefore, maintaining good overall health eye health It is essential.
We got in touch with Dr. Gorav Gupta, CEO and Senior Psychiatrist at Tulasi Healthcare, who shares how stress affects his view and how to avoid these problems.
He The impact of stress on vision
Dr. Gorav explains that the body goes through several physiological reactions when under stress, primarily due to the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones prepare the body to react to perceived dangers, but prolonged exposure to these chemicals due to chronic stress can lead to many health problems, including: eye problems.
“The optic nerve, which connects the eyes to the brain, can affect vision when the brain is under stress. Stress can lead to tension in the muscles around the eyes, as well as other problems such as blurred vision, eye strain and, in severe cases, temporary vision loss,” he said.
Common vision symptoms related to stress
1. Blurry vision: Blurry vision is one of the most typical signs that stress is negatively affecting your eyes. As a result, your eye muscles contract, which can make it difficult to focus on objects, especially when they vary between near and far distances.
2. Eyelid twitching: Stress can cause involuntary spasms of the eyelid muscles, also known as myokymia, which cause spasms. Constant eye twitching, while usually benign, can be annoying and bothersome.
3. Eye fatigue: Prolonged stress, especially in those who spend a lot of time in front of screens, can cause eye fatigue. Common side effects of this condition are dry and congested eyes, as well as eye pain.
4. Double vision: Stress can sometimes cause diplopia, or the perception of two things. This happens when the tension caused by stress causes the muscles around the eyes to not work properly.
5. Sensitivity to light: Another symptom of stress is photophobia, which is the increased sensitivity of the eyes to light. This can be uncomfortable and difficult in brightly lit areas.
6. Temporary loss of vision: Severe stress can, although not often, cause temporary loss of vision, sometimes known as “hysterical blindness.” This usually occurs as a reaction to severe psychological or emotional stress and usually disappears as the stress is reduced.
Stress-related eye conditions
1. Chronic stress has been associated with an increased risk of glaucoma, a disorder in which elevated intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss. Stress can exacerbate the problem by contributing to increased intraocular pressure.
2. Distorted vision is the result of fluid buildup under the retina in central serous retinopathy. Stress is thought to be a key cause of central serous retinopathy, especially in people who lead a very stressful life.
3. Dry eye syndrome: Stress can affect the eyes’ ability to produce tears, which can lead to dry eyes. Prolonged screen time and lack of sleep can aggravate this condition, which can cause discomfort, redness, and blurred vision.
How to prevent stress-related vision problems
1. Manage your stress levels: Reducing stress is the best defense against stress-induced vision problems. Overall stress can be reduced by incorporating relaxation practices such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and regular exercise.
2. Develop good eye habits: Look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes to prevent eye strain. This is because of the 20-20-20 rule. Particularly if you spend a lot of time in front of screens, this simple practice can help reduce eye strain.
3. Make sure you get enough sleep: Getting enough sleep is essential to keeping your eyes healthy. Lack of sleep can exacerbate stress and lead to more serious vision problems. To give your eyes a chance to relax and heal, try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
4. Frequent eye exams: Visiting an ophthalmologist regularly can help identify any early indicators of stress-related vision problems. It is possible to stop more serious disorders from developing at an early stage.
5. Healthy diet: For optimal eye health, a diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants is essential. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as green leafy vegetables, almonds and fish, can help reduce inflammation and improve overall eye health.
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