Are you feeling stressed out? Most of us endure stress in our busy lives, and eye conditions from stress are common. Excessive stress can affect your overall health, including your eye health and vision. How? Here are three eye conditions related to stress:
Eye Strain and Dry Eye
Eye strain is a term used to describe many symptoms that can be brought on by stress or even just overstraining your eyes. Some of the symptoms include blurry vision, headaches, dizziness, and dry, itchy eyes. It can be brought about by any extended use of your eyes for an intense activity, such as working at a computer, playing video games, or driving for many hours. These activities can also cause you to blink less often, which causes dry eyes.
The Mayo Clinic states that eye strain and dry eye brought on by stress and fatigue may also cause blurry vision. The good news is that most symptoms are temporary, won't cause permanent eye damage, and will go away if you rest your eyes.
Eyelid Twitching
According to MedlinePlus, eyelid twitching is often brought about by stress. Some spasms last seconds while others can last hours or days. Twitching most often develops in the lower eyelid, but it can occur in both upper and lower lids. Some serious twitches that last longer than a few days or that cause the eyelid to close completely can have underlying neurological roots. Fortunately, most twitching caused by stress is harmless and won't cause vision problems. Consult a doctor if twitching persists.
Central Serous Choroidopathy
A more serious eye condition from stress is central serous choroidopathy. This disease causes fluid buildup in the retina that can eventually leak into an area beneath the retina called the choroid. MedlinePlus describe this as a condition in which fluid buildup affects the part of the eye that sends sight information to the brain. Symptoms include distorted lines, objects appearing far away, and a blurry spot in the middle of your vision.
No one knows the exact cause of serous choroidopathy, but stress is a big risk factor. Research has shown that the people most likely to develop this condition are those with high-stress lives, type-A personalities, and men ages 20 to 50. Your eye doctor can diagnose this condition. Most cases clear up on their own within a few months with no permanent vision loss. In serious cases, doctors can use a laser to seal the leaky blood vessels.
The key to alleviating eye conditions from stress is to lower your stress level. Exercise, a healthy diet, and meditation or yoga classes provide stress relief. They have other benefits, such as lowering your blood pressure. If you are experiencing eye problems and would like to see an expert, please contact Woodhams Eye Clinic to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced doctors.
