Although stress and depression are well-documented health concerns, one crucial aspect related to these has not received widespread scholarly attention, which is the effect of stress and depression on individuals’ eyesight.

In a 2018 study, Bernhard A. Sabel and others observed that while stress and depression can arise from prolonged vision impairment, due to increased secretion of the stress hormones, stress can cause imbalances in the sympathetic nervous system and vascular dysregulation, ultimately leading to vision impairment.

Thus, a vicious cycle exists between mental stress and vision impairment, one that warrants further examination, especially in the Indian context, given the rising stress levels and large-scale prevalence of vision problems among Indians.

Speaking exclusively to WION,&nbsp;Dr Jogin Desai, CEO &amp; Founder of&nbsp;Eyestem, shared that during periods of stress, the brain, in response, increases the circulation of stress hormones in the vascular system. By influencing the vascular tone in and around the optic nerve, stress hormones can impair vascular autoregulation.

Other factors such as genetic susceptibility and propensity to stress, sensitivity to stress, and a weaker stress resilience system may contribute to the pathology of the visual system. Certain studies attest to this relationship.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-explained-yoga-an-ancient-indian-practice-for-stress-relief-and-intense-relaxation-stress-awareness-month-581347">Explained! Yoga, an ancient Indian practice, for stress relief and intense relaxation: Stress Awareness Month</a>

For example, SA Lim and others found an association between vision impairment and psychosocial problems, reporting that 36% of 140 adults and children with vision impairment reported concomitant psychosocial problems.

ES Avetisov and others found that following the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, 30% of the 762 residents they surveyed developed pseudo-myopia. These residents had never complained of vision problems before. As an imbalanced autonomic nervous system function, parasympathetic activation as it appeared in this case, is believed to cause pseudo-myopia, and psychogenic stress was concluded as the cause.

Additionally, R Casten and others found that patients with age-related macular degeneration suffer from higher stress.

Other vision problems may follow from stress. To facilitate threat detection and preparedness, the brain releases greater amounts of adrenaline, which makes pupils dilate. Increased levels of the stress hormone adrenaline may result in dilated pupils for a prolonged duration and greater sensitivity to light.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-stress-awareness-month-2023-doctor-suggests-9-lifestyle-and-diet-changes-to-lower-stress-hormones--exclusive-580024">Stress Awareness Month 2023: Doctor suggests 9 lifestyle changes to lower stress hormones | Exclusive</a>

Again for threat preparedness, stress leads to a narrowed field of vision and reduced blink rate, which can lead to tunnel vision and dry and strained eyes, respectively.&nbsp;

Continued stress can trigger inflammation in people with autoimmune disorders such as lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease and, thereby, cause vision problems.

Chronic stress strains the body and its systems, causing chronic and continued eye muscle tension, twitching, strain, photophobia,&nbsp;and dry or wet eyes, depending on the body’s response to stressful situations.

In conclusion, he says, "Interestingly, as indicated by Professor Sabel and others in their 2018 article,&nbsp;ancient Indian physician&nbsp;Sushruta was among the initial proponents of the relationship between mental health and vision. Of the 18 causes of vision loss he identified, six were related to mental distress: improper sleeping, continuous weeping, rage, sorrow, stress suffering, and suppression of tears. Indian Ayurveda’s age-old grasp of this relationship, therefore, should also prompt a reappraisal among Indian medics of the diagnosis and treatment of eye care. Along with pathophysiology, the focus should be placed on psychosomatic ophthalmology. This will, eventually, lead to improved and more holistic care."

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.

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Although stress and depression are well-documented health concerns, one crucial aspect related to these has not received widespread scholarly attention, which is the effect of stress and depression on individuals’ eyesight.

Although stress and depression are well-documented health concerns, one crucial aspect related to these has not received widespread scholarly attention, which is the effect of stress and depression on individuals’ eyesight. In a 2018 study, Bernhard A. Sabel and others observed that while stress and depression can arise from prolonged vision impairment, due to increased secretion of the stress hormones, stress can cause imbalances in the sympathetic nervous system and vascular dysregulation, ultimately leading to vision impairment. Thus, a vicious cycle exists between mental stress and vision impairment, one that warrants further examination, especially in the Indian context, given the rising stress levels and large-scale prevalence of vision problems among Indians. Speaking exclusively to WION, Dr Jogin Desai, CEO & Founder of Eyestem, shared that during periods of stress, the brain, in response, increases the circulation of stress hormones in the vascular system. By influencing the vascular tone in and around the optic nerve, stress hormones can impair vascular autoregulation. Other factors such as genetic susceptibility and propensity to stress, sensitivity to stress, and a weaker stress resilience system may contribute to the pathology of the visual system. Certain studies attest to this relationship. Also read: Explained! Yoga, an ancient Indian practice, for stress relief and intense relaxation: Stress Awareness Month For example, SA Lim and others found an association between vision impairment and psychosocial problems, reporting that 36% of 140 adults and children with vision impairment reported concomitant psychosocial problems. ES Avetisov and others found that following the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, 30% of the 762 residents they surveyed developed pseudo-myopia. These residents had never complained of vision problems before. As an imbalanced autonomic nervous system function, parasympathetic activation as it appeared in this case, is believed to cause pseudo-myopia, and psychogenic stress was concluded as the cause. Additionally, R Casten and others found that patients with age-related macular degeneration suffer from higher stress. Other vision problems may follow from stress. To facilitate threat detection and preparedness, the brain releases greater amounts of adrenaline, which makes pupils dilate. Increased levels of the stress hormone adrenaline may result in dilated pupils for a prolonged duration and greater sensitivity to light. Also read: Stress Awareness Month 2023: Doctor suggests 9 lifestyle changes to lower stress hormones | Exclusive Again for threat preparedness, stress leads to a narrowed field of vision and reduced blink rate, which can lead to tunnel vision and dry and strained eyes, respectively. Continued stress can trigger inflammation in people with autoimmune disorders such as lupus, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease and, thereby, cause vision problems. Chronic stress strains the body and its systems, causing chronic and continued eye muscle tension, twitching, strain, photophobia, and dry or wet eyes, depending on the body’s response to stressful situations. In conclusion, he says, "Interestingly, as indicated by Professor Sabel and others in their 2018 article, ancient Indian physician Sushruta was among the initial proponents of the relationship between mental health and vision. Of the 18 causes of vision loss he identified, six were related to mental distress: improper sleeping, continuous weeping, rage, sorrow, stress suffering, and suppression of tears. Indian Ayurveda’s age-old grasp of this relationship, therefore, should also prompt a reappraisal among Indian medics of the diagnosis and treatment of eye care. Along with pathophysiology, the focus should be placed on psychosomatic ophthalmology. This will, eventually, lead to improved and more holistic care." Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Can mental stress cause vision problems? Medical expert answers | Stress Awareness Month 2023

A lot of people face issues with distorted vision during and after driving vehicles. The issues related to eyes and vision are quite common and often get neglected.

A lot of people face issues with distorted vision during and after driving vehicles. The issues related to eyes and vision are quite common and often get neglected. The constant negligence will have consequences from serious problems with vision and subsequently road accidents. A report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) last year in June, stated that approximately 1.3 million people die every year as a result of a road traffic crash and millions suffer non-fatal critical injuries. In India, the situation is pretty bad when it comes to road safety. Data showed that around 149,000 people lost their lives on Indian roads in 2018 alone. In India, more than 11 per cent of road traffic deaths happen even though the nation accounts for about 2 per cent of motor vehicles globally. ALSO READ | Cervical cancer: Expert tells WION about symptoms to be kept in check and a few preventive measures To know more about the different aspects of eye-related problems, WION spoke to Dr Shalinder Sabherwal, who is the Head of Community Ophthalmology and Associate Medical Director at Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital. Dr Sabherwal said that a lot of people may be not aware of the fact that they might be having a thing called "refractive error", which basically means the need for glasses. He said that it gets noticed when people find it difficult to see far, especially while driving or while doing some other work. Dr Sabherwal's remarks suggest that in India, there is a lack of awareness related to the need to address the impact of vision problems related to road safety. He further noted that there's a particular type of astigmatism, where the distortion can be even more if a person doesn't have corrected glasses. There are other eye conditions, which can cause eye distortion, could be cataract. It could be even an early cataract which may not cause that much of a problem in other activities but during driving, it can cause distortion. He said that glaucoma also leads to problems during driving. In such situations, a person will slowly lose peripheral (side) vision and will not be able to see things out of the corner of the eye. The vision may also be dull and blurry. Common eye disorders and diseases Refractive errors Cataract Glaucoma Amblyopia Strabismus Macular degeneration due to ageing ALSO READ | Why does joint pain increase in winter season? Expert tells WION the reasons and preventive measures Dr Sabherwal said, "Similarly other retinal conditions affecting that portion of the eye, especially due to diabetes and ageing can cause distortion, which is apparent during driving." While talking about preventive measures, Dr Sabherwal suggested that if you are going for a long drive at night, keep taking a break at regular intervals. Also, make sure the eyes are tested for glasses. He noted that if a person is myopic, he/she may not find it difficult during day time, but during the night issues occur with vision. He suggested that people must use anti-glare glasses and also said that they must get their eyes checked regularly. Issue of poor vision of trucker drivers Dr Sabherwal also weighed in on the report by ICARE eye hospital, which highlighted staggering data, revealing that 50 per cent of truck drivers in India face issues with vision. The data was found after conducting eye tests on 34,000 truck drivers in the country, news outlet India Today shared details in its report published in January. Dr Sabherwal mentioned the impact of the initiative by Dr Shroff Charitable Eye Hospital and Eicher Foundation, which has provided screening and checkups to truck drivers. It has also helped in addressing the issue of poor vision of trucker drivers along with other regular drivers on the road. Key takeaways from what Dr Sabherwal said Keep taking a break at regular intervals during long drives Regular eye check-ups Use anti-glare glasses WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Expert reveals why some people suffer from distorted vision while driving

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