Vision Problems Caused By Stress: In today's busy world, feeling stressed is common as  because of worries, anxieties, fears, depression, or social isolation. Its impact, however, extends beyond the confines of the mind, reaching into the very depths of our ocular health. Chronic and prolonged mental stress can disrupt the balance of the autonomic nervous system and vascular dysregulation, setting the stage for a host of eye-related woes.

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Priyanka Singh (MBBS, MS, DNB, FAICO), Consultant & Eye Surgeon, Neytra Eye Centre, New Delhi explained how stress can have potential effects on vision. 

How Does Stress Affect Your Eyes?

One of the primary manifestations of mental stress on ocular health is eye strain, often exacerbated by irregular sleeping habits, such as daytime sleeping and nocturnal awakenings. 

Eye Pain: Because of weeping or anger, exacerbated by excessive sweating or the habitual rubbing of tired eyes. Though seemingly small at first, these symptoms can escalate over time, leading to a gradual decline in vision and can be a cause of eye inflammation.

Blurry vision: Stress may cause the muscles in your eyes to tense up resulting in temporary blurry vision or partial vision.

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Dry eyes: Stress can also make your eyes dry. When you are stressed, your body produces cortisol, a hormone that may prevent the formation of tears. This may result in dry eyes, accompanied by signs such as burning, itching, and redness.

Optic neuropathy, characterised by inflammation and gradual atrophy of the optic nerve, represents a more severe consequence of unchecked mental stress, resulting in vision loss. This condition is particularly prevalent among individuals who engage in habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, further underscoring the intricate interplay between mental health and ocular well-being.

Vision Problems Caused By Stress (Image Credits: Canva)

Glaucoma, often caused by an increased imbalance in the nervous system, high blood pressure or eye pressure, can result in irreversible vision loss if left untreated.

Moreover, mental stress serves as a significant contributing factor to a myriad of other eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. 

Eye diseases are also diseases of the brain and vascular system which is greatly modified by hormones, especially stress hormones. So mental stress is not a small personality disorder, it is a triad of great psychological, biological and ophthalmological diseases that requires assessment and correct treatment.

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To sum up, stress can affect both your mind and your eyes. It's really important to find eye problems early and get help quickly to stop stress from making them worse. This gives us hope, even when things seem uncertain. If you experience any stress-related eye problems, consult an eye specialist for assistance in managing the situation.