Stress, a common reaction to life’s demands, doesn’t just affect your mind and body – it can impact your vision, too. While stress is a natural part of daily life, excessive or chronic stress can lead to significant health issues, and your eyes are no exception.
When stress and anxiety reach high levels, they release adrenaline, putting pressure on the eyes and causing blurred vision. Chronic anxiety can result in persistent eye strain throughout the day. This heightened sensitivity to movement over time can lead to muscular tension and headaches.
Stress-related vision issues: signs and symptoms [1]:
- Light and motion sensitivity, making it hard to concentrate.
- Eye twitching without pain.
- Very dry or excessively wet eyes.
- Blurry vision and difficulty focusing.
- Eye strain, leading to discomfort or minor pain.
- Eye floaters: small spots drifting across your vision.
If you experience these symptoms without underlying medical conditions, consult an optometrist. Lifestyle changes can help manage stress, such as getting enough rest, maintaining a healthy diet, practicing meditation, and engaging in stress-relief exercises.
Even a few minutes of intentional relaxation can help calm your body. If these symptoms coincide with other medical issues, consult a doctor to rule out serious problems. Most stress-induced eye problems are temporary, but prompt diagnosis by an optometrist is crucial for corrective measures.
Maintaining a healthy vision and minimizing stress [2]:
- Breath work: Mastering breath control aids stress management. Techniques like box and belly breathing reduce anxiety, depression, and anger while enhancing cognitive health [3].
- Exercise: Engage in cardiovascular activities to improve heart health and reduce stress [4]. Improved blood flow and reduced blood pressure help prevent heart disease, stroke, and eye problems linked to high blood pressure.
- Get adequate sleep: Providing your eyes with approximately eight hours of nightly rest is essential for recovery. Inadequate sleep can cause dry eyes and heightened infection vulnerability [5]. Sleep disorders like sleep apnea can increase the risk of glaucoma due to decreased oxygen circulation.
- Meditation: Meditation reduces stress and alleviates anxiety, insomnia, and depression [6]. It even lowers pro-inflammatory proteins called cytokines due to reduced stress levels. Meditation apps can aid during stressful moments.
- Take screen breaks: The 20-20-20 rule suggests looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to prevent headaches, dry eyes, and blurry vision caused by extended screen time [7].
To safeguard your eyes from stress-related issues, seek healthy stress management strategies. You can ensure your vision stays clear and healthy by taking regular screen breaks, exercising, practicing meditation, utilizing breath work, and prioritizing sleep.
[1] www.stress.org/how-stress-affects-your-vision
[2] www.cnet.com/health/personal-care/how-stress-affects-your-vision-and-what-to-do-about-it/
[3] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9873947/
[4] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6557987/
[5] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9762265/
[6] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7359050/
[7] www.researchgate.net/publication/10760616_The_effect_of_work-rest_schedules_and_type_of_task_on_the_discomfort_and_performance_of_VDT_users
The information included in this article is for informational purposes only. The purpose of this webpage is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
