Post Covid Eye Problems

Physical manifestations of pandemic stress have been well documented: People have been complaining about high blood pressure, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating. According to experts, there are other, potentially overlooked, stress indicators, and eye health is one of them.

"Stress, anxiety, depression, and mental health changes can affect our sensory system, especially our vision," said Raj Maturi, an ophthalmologist and clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Vision is a complex psychophysical process where we build a model of the world around us — and this is affected by our mental state.”

Eye twitching is a common stress response, for example. The twitches that occur when the muscles around the eye spasm usually go away in a day or two. Other common issues, such as dry eye disease, can have long-term consequences if not addressed.

Such eye conditions are "very common pandemic side effects," according to Maturi. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time on Zoom or work long hours on your laptop because you're probably not blinking as much as you should.

Eye problems, no matter how common they are, are all too often ignored, according to Maturi. However, he added, "vision is one of the most precious things we have."

As people's stress levels rise, it's critical to understand how anxiety affects the eyes. Here are the fundamentals — as well as some pointers on how to protect your eyes in stressful situations.

What you should know about stress and eye problems

According to a 2018 literature review, stress can be both a "consequence and cause" of vision problems. In other words, having a regular eye twitch or a more serious eye condition can increase stress, and stress can also cause or worsen eye issues, according to Julie Rosenthal, a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Michigan Health.

Cortisol is a contributor to the problem. During times of stress, the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys release the hormone, which can dilate the pupils, making it difficult for your eyes to focus and causing light sensitivity and blurred vision.

According to Rosenthal, high cortisol levels increase the risk of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). The condition occurs when fluid accumulates beneath the retina and impairs your central vision. A dark or grey spot in your sightline, blurred vision and straight lines that appear wavy or curved are all symptoms.

According to Rosenthal, some people have a single episode of CSCR that resolves on its own after a few months and does not cause long-term vision problems. Others may experience repeated occurrences, which can damage the retina and result in permanent changes to their eyesight, including vision loss. Treatments, such as injections, laser therapy, and oral medications, can usually help, she adds, especially if the condition is detected early.

As screen time increases, conditions like computer vision syndrome (CVS) become more common. Headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and eyestrain can all be symptoms of CVS. According to Maturi, the condition is treatable with a visit to your ophthalmologist and a prescription for corrective lenses.

Stress and trauma can also cause rare conditions such as functional neurological disorder or conversion disorder, which affects someone's ability to see, walk, or hear — with no medical explanation. "There is no ocular dysfunction," Maturi explained, "There is no ocular dysfunction, but the person is just unable to process the input from the eyes due to overwhelming stress." Sometimes the symptoms go away quickly and never return, but in other cases, they can last for months or years and interfere with daily life. Psychotherapy and physical therapy are commonly used in treatment.

Tips for Keeping Your Eyes Safe

Experts say that taking steps to reduce overall stress, such as getting more exercise and engaging in your favorite self-care activities, can do wonders for your health, including your eyes.

Most stress-related eye problems, such as twitching and dry eyes, will improve once you reduce your stress, usually within a week or two, according to Maturi. (The exception is CSCR, which can develop into a long-term condition requiring ongoing treatment and monitoring from an ophthalmologist.)

According to Michael Ziffra, associate professor of psychiatry at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, stress can make it difficult to take proper care of yourself. But, he adds, "just the day-to-day stuff that we would do to promote our eye health, it's harder to be consistent with those things when you're under stress."

Here are some immediate actions you can take to improve your vision:

Reduce your screen time: Taking breaks from your laptop or phone is beneficial to your mental health and vision, according to Maturi. He suggests following the 20-20-20 rule: "Look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes." This allows the eyes to adjust their focus and reduces headaches or eye twitching."

Make use of artificial tears: According to Rosenthal, over-the-counter artificial tears can relieve dryness, refresh the eyes, and help with eye twitching. Avoid products that claim to reduce redness, she says, because they contain tetrahydrozoline, which can irritate the eyes and worsen the situation.

Replace your contact lenses regularly: Wearing contact lenses for an extended period or failing to clean or disinfect them properly can result in eye infections and irritation. Clean and disinfect your contacts before reintroducing them into your eyes, avoid sleeping with daily contacts, and replace them according to your doctor's and the lens manufacturer's instructions.

Get lots of rest: Tiredness can cause redness, irritation, dry eyes, and blurry vision, as well as fatigue and moodiness, all of which can contribute to stress. Aiming for at least seven hours of sleep per night will benefit both your stress levels and your eyes. Here are some suggestions for getting a better night's sleep.

Keep hydrated: Drinking plenty of water will keep your body (and eyes) hydrated, which will help to reduce irritation. Ziffra also advises avoiding excessive caffeine, which can cause eye twitching, as well as drinking alcohol in moderation.

When in doubt, call your doctor: If your dry eyes or vision changes aren't improving within a week or two, see your doctor, especially if the problem is interfering with your daily life, according to Rosenthal. Seek medical attention right away if you experience sudden vision loss. To keep your eyes healthy, Maturi recommends getting an eye exam at least every two years (and once a year if you're over 50)

To wrap things up!

Millions of Americans who are prescribed CCM eyedrops, are not using it regularly or properly because they’re experiencing stress. For example, a recent survey found that 63% of people said their stress was causing them to be more forgetful about taking their eye drops.

Now, we want to hear from you! In your comment below, tell us whether you’re looking for an Eyecare product and what sort of Eyesight issues you have. We look forward to hearing from you!