Posted by: Raleigh Ophthalmology in Eye Health

Reduce Your Stress and Relax Your Eyes Stress plays a part in our lives, but how we react and cope with stress when it arises matters. We often feel physically and mentally stressed in our demanding lifestyles. However, did you know stress can damage your eyes? When you are overly stressed or anxious, there is an overproduction of adrenaline in your body, which causes pressure on your eyes and results in blurry vision, muscular tension, and headaches.

A Few Common Described Stress Eye Symptoms

Floaters are tiny, dark specks that you may see, especially if you look at the light. Some have also described the floaters as strands, spots, or squiggly lines. You can usually see the floaters more when you look at something bright, such as the sky, a bright light, or plain white paper. Flashes are sudden sparks of light that may flicker across your vision. They may also appear like light strands that affect your vision.

How to Eliminate Eye Symptoms Due to Stress

RELAX…Calm Your Mind and Body The key to treating eye symptom issues caused by stress is to reduce exposure to stress. If you experience an active stress response, take measures to get to a calm and zen place. Allow your body to bounce back from the flood of adrenaline. Take a 20-minute self-care moment to give your body time to recover, and your vision should return to normal.

Utilize the following stress relief techniques:

  • Deep Breathing Exercises
  • Meditation
  • Social Support
  • Yoga
  • Relax (read, paint, or write a journal entry)
It is essential to make changes to your daily life and incorporate stress relief techniques to free you from the negative impacts of stress. In addition to applying stress relief techniques to your everyday life, try not to focus on your symptoms. Make it your self-care priority to achieve quality sleep daily, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly. These can all help lessen the negative impacts of stress on your eye health and overall health. If you experience prolonged symptoms, it is time to call your eye doctor and schedule an appointment. Stress impacts us all in different ways. One person could feel all the stress eye symptoms, while the next only feels a few. Make de-stressing a priority for your eye health, and never take your eyes for granted.

Relax and count to 10; your eyes will love you for it!

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References: American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Optometry. This blog provides information and discussion about eye health and related subjects. The content provided in this blog and any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, they should consult with an appropriately licensed physician.