Seeing Stress

Stress and the Eyes: How Modern Life Can Affect Our Vision (Part 1)

- Dr Khor Wei Boon

Modern life is often described as “stressful”, and few people would disagree with this assessment. Many of us work long hours, spending our time staring at the computer screen or digital devices throughout the day and often into the night. For those of us who spend our days caring for our children and families, there can be a lot of pressure in sorting out and attending to school activities, enrichment schedules, and/or hospital appointments. When time is in short supply, sleep tends to be sacrificed as we try to carve out just that little bit of “me time”. Ironically, that may not be enough to stop our minds from worrying about the next day, which disrupts our sleep cycles even more. And then the new day starts, and the cycle begins again!

THE STRESS RESPONSE AND OUR EYES

When the body is under stress, it activates a well-known “fight-or-flight” response. Hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released – the heart starts pumping harder and faster, muscles become tensed up, senses are heightened, and the body is primed for action. Once the stressful situation passes, the body returns to its normal, restful state. But modern stress tends to be chronic and persistent, and living in a constant state of tension can result in all sorts of harmful consequences, including high blood pressure, heart disease, metabolic disorders (such as diabetes), nerve and muscle problems, and psychological issues.