HONOLULU (KHON2) — Stress can affect many parts of your body, including your eyes. When you feel stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
These hormones prepare you for a “fight or flight” response.
Though some changes in your eyes due to stress are temporary, it’s important to understand how stress can impact your vision, especially if you have eye conditions like glaucoma or dry eyes.
The American Academy of Opthamology released a report on how stress impacts the body and what you can do to help prevent the negative health consequences for elevated hormones.
Before we move into talking about stress and how to identify it, let’s take a look at an amazingly easy technique you can do anywhere.
How to stop the stress
Covering your left eye with your left hand has the potential to help you feel less stressed because it can calm your brain.
Your brain has two sides: the left side and the right side. The right side of your brain helps you feel emotions and react to stress. It also controls the left side of your body.
When you cover your left eye, it makes your brain focus more on the right eye, which is connected to the left side of your brain.
The left side of your brain is better at thinking logically and staying calm. This shift in focus has the potential to help you feel more relaxed.
Also, covering one eye can reduce the amount of visual information your brain has to process. This can make things feel less overwhelming. Some people find this trick helpful when they are feeling anxious or stressed.
How stress affects your eyes
Elevated eye pressure: Stress can cause a temporary increase in eye pressure. While this may not harm you right away, it could damage your optic nerve over time, especially if you have glaucoma. Regular eye exams are important as you age.
Light sensitivity (photophobia): When stressed, bright lights can hurt your eyes more than usual. This is known as photophobia. Though it often comes from stress, it can also be a sign of a more serious problem, so tell your eye doctor if it happens often.
Eye twitching: Many people experience eye twitching when stressed, which can be worsened by caffeine and lack of sleep. Though it’s usually harmless and goes away on its own, it’s a common sign of stress.
Blurry vision Stress can cause blurry vision, especially when you’re anxious. If you’re middle-aged, stress may also worsen your difficulty seeing things up close (presbyopia). During very high stress, like a panic attack, blurry vision can be caused by changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your body.
Eye strain: Prolonged screen time or reading can cause eye strain, and stress can make it worse. The “20-20-20” rule can help: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to give your eyes a break.
Tunnel vision: Extreme anxiety can narrow your field of vision. and that can make you feel like you can only see directly in front of you. If this happens often, it could be a sign of a more serious condition like advanced glaucoma; so, it’s important to see an eye doctor.
Dry or watery eyes: Stress can cause your eyes to become too dry or overly watery. If your eyes feel dry, you can try some simple home remedies to help.
Eye floaters: Stress doesn’t cause eye floaters, but it can make you more aware of tiny spots that float in your field of vision.
Stress and glaucoma:
Stress doesn’t directly cause glaucoma, but it can affect people with the condition. High stress can lead to skipping medicine or doctor visits, which makes it harder to manage glaucoma.
Stress can also contribute to optic nerve damage. Practicing stress relief methods can help slow down the progression of eye disease.
In extreme cases, stress can trigger acute angle-closure glaucoma, which requires immediate treatment.
Stress and dry eye disease
If you have dry eyes, stress can make your symptoms worse. Stress can create a cycle where dry eyes cause emotional distress, which in turn worsens your dry eyes. Certain medications used for anxiety, such serotonin reuptake inhibitors, can also cause dry eyes.
Tips for stress relief
If stress is affecting your eyes, it’s a good idea to schedule an eye exam. Your doctor can help treat eye problems and offer advice.
In addition, here are a few tips to help reduce stress:
- Place the palm of your hand over your left eye.
- Practice deep breathing.
- Exercise regularly.
- Try mindfulness meditation.
- Limit time on social media.
- Spend time with family and friends.
- Seek help from a doctor or therapist if stress is affecting your daily life.
Things to know and do
- Regular eye exams: Keep up with eye check-ups, especially if you have glaucoma.
- Watch for symptoms: Be aware of stress-related changes like eye twitching, light sensitivity or blurry vision.
- Practice stress relief: Use breathing exercises, exercise and meditation to reduce stress.
- Stay connected: Spending time with loved ones can help ease anxiety.
- Seek professional help: If stress is overwhelming, reach out to a doctor or therapist for support.
You can click here to read more from AAO.
Understanding how stress affects your eyes can help you take better care of your vision and overall health!