Can Stress Affect Eyesight?

What Vision Problems Are Commonly Triggered by Stress?

Elevated stress levels can lead to a range of vision problems. Here are some of the most common problems that can arise in stressful situations:

Short-Sightedness

Stress can also affect your visual acuity. Intense tension may cause the ciliary muscles to spasm. These muscles are responsible for stabilising the lens of the eye and enabling near focus. When they tense up, temporary short-sightedness can occur.

Colour Blindness and Night Blindness

Stress can increase the eyes' sensitivity to light and impair the perception of colours and contrasts. In some cases, people under stress may find it difficult to distinguish colours accurately, leading to temporary colour blindness. Night blindness, which makes it harder to see in low-light conditions, can also become more pronounced.

Blindness in General

Extreme or chronic stress can result in a temporary loss of vision, often referred to as "psychogenic blindness." Although the eyes are physically intact, those affected may find themselves unable to see for a short period. While rare, this phenomenon highlights the complex relationship between stress and visual impairment.

Flashes or Flickering Lights

Stress can stimulate retinal activity, leading to visual disturbances such as flashes or flickering lights. These are often perceived as brief, lightning-like streaks or flickering patterns and are frequently accompanied by headaches or migraines. Similarly, ocular migraines are often associated with visual disruptions, such as flickering lights or flashes, that can affect the field of vision.

Eyelid Twitching

Under stress, involuntary muscle contractions can occur. Many people notice a slight pulsing or twitching of their eyelids, which can be quite uncomfortable. The exact cause of stress-induced eyelid twitching is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to heightened nervous excitement and muscle tension associated with high stress levels.

Dry Eyes

Stress can reduce tear production, leading to dry eyes. This can cause itching, redness, and even excessive tearing as the eyes try to counteract the dryness. Dry eyes can result in blurry vision, especially during prolonged activities such as reading or working on screens.

Blurred Vision

One of the most common stress-related vision problems is blurred vision. This usually occurs temporarily, making it difficult to see clearly and impairing your ability to focus. High blood pressure, often associated with stress, can also contribute to blurred vision by affecting the eyes' blood flow and reducing visual performance.

What Causes Stress-Related Vision Problems?

Stress-related vision problems can stem from a variety of causes closely linked to our modern lifestyle and the effects of stress on the body.

Screen Time and Digital Strain

Prolonged screen time or digital strain, whether on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, can lead to strained eye muscles. Constantly focusing on digital devices tires the eyes and can result in blurred vision. Additionally, we tend to blink less when concentrating on a screen, which means the tear film isn’t distributed properly across the surface of the eye.

Poor Posture

Work-related stress often results in poor, tense posture. This frequently causes tension in the neck and shoulder area, which can reflect in the eye muscles and impair vision.

Anxiety Disorders and Stress Reactions

Anxiety and chronic stress can increase nervous excitability, which also affects the eyes. This can lead to problems like eyelid twitching, light sensitivity, and blurred vision.

Lack of Fresh Air and Exercise

When work keeps us busy, we tend to spend less time outdoors and are less physically active. A lack of fresh air and exercise can reduce blood circulation, negatively impacting our visual performance.

Sleep Deprivation and Irregular Sleep Patterns

Stress is often processed during sleep, which can lead to sleep disturbances. The next morning, you might feel like your eyes are tired and could even experience blurred vision.

Dietary Habits

We’ve all been there: you come home tired and stressed, and cooking feels like too much effort – so you end up popping a frozen pizza in the oven. An unbalanced diet and consuming caffeinated drinks or heavily processed foods can harm eye health and lead to vision problems.

Dehydration

Under stress, it’s easy to forget to drink enough water. Suddenly, the day is over, and you’ve had nothing more than your morning coffee. When your body is dehydrated, it shows in the form of dry eyes. Emotional Strain Intense emotions such as fear, worry, or sadness can influence how visual information is perceived and processed, leading to vision problems.

What is Meant by "Manager’s Disease"?

"Manager’s disease" is a colloquial term used to describe a range of health problems that often affect individuals in high-stress or leadership roles, particularly in management. These issues are frequently the result of long working hours, intense stress, unhealthy work habits, and a heavy commitment to professional responsibilities.

Manager’s disease encompasses a variety of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms stemming from the demanding and often overwhelming lifestyle of executives. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Burnout and Exhaustion: Constant pressure and stress can lead to burnout, a serious state of physical and emotional exhaustion.

• Stress-Related Health Issues: High stress levels can trigger numerous health problems, including cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, digestive issues, and sleep disorders.

• Mental Health Strain: Leadership roles often involve critical decisions and responsibilities, which can result in anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges.

• Lack of Work-Life Balance: Long working hours and high professional demands often create an imbalance between work and personal life, reducing overall quality of life.

• Physical Discomfort: Prolonged sedentary work and lack of physical activity frequently lead to back and neck pain, eye strain, headaches, and other physical complaints.

• Social Isolation: The heavy workload can lead to social isolation, as managers often have less time for social activities.

Manager’s Disease of the Eye

Currently, there is limited knowledge about the eye-specific aspect of manager’s disease, also known as central serous retinopathy (CSR). Existing research suggests that excessive stress, both personal and professional, can trigger this condition. Key symptoms include the appearance of a grey spot in the visual field, altered visual perception, difficulties with reading, and disturbances in colour perception.

Men under 50 years of age are most commonly affected. During an eye examination, slight elevations in the retina can often be observed, typically accompanied by fluid accumulation. In more severe cases, microtears may occur, allowing fluid (aqueous humour) to leak from the eyeball.

Most people recover from these vision disturbances within three to six months. However, some experience recurring episodes. In such cases, laser eye treatment is recommended to seal the retina. Without treatment, there is a risk of complete retinal detachment.

What Helps with Stress-Related Vision Problems?

Stress management techniques such as relaxation, meditation, and exercise are effective in addressing stress-related vision problems. Regular screen breaks, eye exercises, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep can also provide relief. Special glasses (such as computer glasses or blue light filter glasses) may help alleviate symptoms. For persistent issues, it’s advisable to seek medical advice.

Measures & Tips to Relieve Stress-Related Vision Problems:

• Stress Management Techniques: Practices like meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and breathing exercises can significantly reduce overall stress levels.

• Screen Breaks: Taking regular breaks during screen work helps relax the eye muscles and reduces fatigue. During these breaks, let your gaze drift into the distance.

• Eye Exercises: Targeted eye exercises, such as focusing on nearby and distant objects or blinking more often, can relax the eye muscles and improve their ability to adjust focus.

• Balanced Diet: Focus on a diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients support eye health and can minimise stress-induced damage.

• Adequate Sleep: Ensuring sufficient sleep in both quantity and quality allows your eyes to regenerate and promotes healthy vision.

• Relaxation Activities: Practices like yoga, Tai Chi, or breathing exercises help reduce physical tension and support overall stress management.

• Hydration: Staying hydrated is essential to prevent dry eyes, which can be exacerbated by stress. Make it a habit to keep a full glass of water by your screen.

• Stress-Relieving Activities: Hobbies, social interactions, and time spent in nature can reduce stress and boost overall well-being. Even if it feels like an effort after a long workday, take a walk in the fresh air – you’ll feel refreshed and energised afterward.

• Ergonomic Work Environment: An ergonomic workspace and proper screen positioning can reduce eye strain during work.