Individuals that have ever felt stressed already know that it can affect the body either by causing muscle tightness, flutters in the chest, a nagging headache, frequent insomnia or even a decreased productivity at work.
But these stress symptoms are merely the signals of the deeper impact that chronic stress can have on every organ and system in the body, from the nervous and circulatory systems to the digestive and immune systems.
It’s one thing to feel occasional stress. But when under constant living a stressed life and there is no way to cope, the risk of developing serious illnesses increase.
Aside from increased risk for diseases like stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and anxiety, in a new study, experts warn that persistent stress may lead to a range of eye health issues, as well as worsen existing ones.
They suggested that stress is both consequence and cause of vision loss, stating that clinicians should refrain from adding any unnecessary stress to their patients and that reducing stress may help to restore vision.
In this study published in the EPMA Journal, they stated that persistent psychological stress is both the consequence and cause of vision loss from a range of eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.
When a person loses his eyesight, he may experience a high level of mental stress in the form of worries and anxiety about the situation. Sometimes, in more severe circumstances, depression and social isolation may result.
Often patients are told that the prospect of a cure is poor and that they should be prepared to become blind one day even when this is far from the certainty and full blindness almost never occurs.
The ensuing fear and anxiety are a neurological and psychological double-burden with physiological consequences that often worsen the disease condition.
According to them, persistent stress, which raises levels of the hormone cortisol, can disrupt blood flow in these parts of the body and actually cause damage to the eye and brain.
This, in turn, may lead to conditions such as glaucoma and optic neuropathy — ultimately resulting in complete vision loss.
Moreover, Dr Champion Seun-Fadipe, a consultant psychiatrist, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife, stated that every part of the body, including the eye, can be affected by psychological stress.
He declared: “Such people could complain of difficulty in swallowing; they can complain of a reduction in visual performance or difficulty with walking. It is because the stress is being transformed into physical symptoms. So there is a possibility that prolonged stress can cause vision loss.”
Nonetheless, Dr Seun-Fadipe declared that such stress that will manifest as physical symptoms in the body would have exceeded the level that the individual can cope with.
“You do not say something is stressful until the person’s ability to cope with it is exceeded. And what is stress to me, in fact, may not be stress to you. For example, sleep deprivation could be a stressor for some people, making them have issues with their health.
“Also, physical illnesses can pose as stressors to somebody who is vulnerable, likewise events outside an individual such as unemployment and loss of a loved one. It depends on many factors. Also, different individuals have different stress coping mechanisms.”
Howbeit, that stress can cause visual loss, Dr Opeyemi Komolafe, a consultant ophthalmologist, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, said is an enigma.
According to Dr Komolafe, this is yet-to-be scientifically proven although it is understood that someone who feels he is about going blind will definitely be under a lot of psychological stress.
Dr Komolafe, a glaucoma expert declared “that psychological stress could hasten the rate of vision loss, especially in glaucoma patient, is not something that is established.”
Even so, he said systemic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which has been associated with glaucoma, can lead to visual loss.
But, persistent stress, he said can affect the progression of diabetes and hypertension just as stress can affect the entire body, including the eye, although this remains an enigma.
Dr Komolafe declared that for every disease, it is always an interplay of genes and nurture, including psychosocial and environmental factor.
This study, which will be presented in November at the 5th International Conference of “Low Vision and Brain” in Berlin, is based on a comprehensive analysis of hundreds of published research and clinical reports on the relationship of stress and eye diseases.
This is rather surprising given that many patients suspect that mental stress had contributed to their vision loss, representing a large disconnect between scientific activity and what the public needs.
However, the authors admit that more clinical studies are necessary to confirm their findings and to assess the efficacy of various stress reduction strategies for slowing down the progressive loss of vision and for improving the chances of vision recovery.
Dr Seun-Fadipe said stress reduction strategies such as meditation, stress management techniques, or psychological counselling may serve to restore vision and improve eye health. Such techniques should not just complement conventional medicine, they should also be used preventively.
He, however, warned against resorting to alcohol or food to cope with stress. “Alcohol use or food may reduce the impact of that stressor, but this can become more harmful than helpful in the long run,” he added.
Previously, researchers have warned that stress can make existing health problems worse. In one study, for example, about half the participants saw improvements in chronic headaches after learning how to stop the stress-producing habit of constantly thinking negative thoughts about their pain.
Other forms of chronic stress, such as depression and low levels of social support, have also been implicated in increased cardiovascular risk. And once you’re sick, stress can also make it hard to recover.
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