Long work hours, little sleep, a full inbox; balancing work and a social life: Stress can pile up and have notable physical effects on the body, including the eyes. Ocular symptoms such as burning, redness, irritation, watery eyes, and blurred vision may signify the presence of dry eye disease, which affects as much as 8% of the U.S.
population . These symptoms can intensify in troubling times. "Stress can certainly exacerbate dry eye problems in a variety of ways," says Darren Gregory, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
"The body experiences elevated levels of inflammation when you're feeling stressed, and inflammation is a factor in dry eyes," he explains. "In inflammation, white blood cells are recruited to the surface of the eye where they start releasing the inflammatory chemicals they produce, and this can make symptoms worse." Gregory explains why stress seems to impact dry eye and how patients can help alleviate some of the symptoms.
Stress can increase sensitivity to pain all over the body. "Our perception of pain is heightened, so the discomfort a person may feel in their eyes can be amplified," Gregory explains. There are other factors at play, too.
Lack of sleep, coupled with medications used to treat behavioral conditions like anxiety, depression, and insomnia may also contribute to worsening dry eye symptoms. "We may have difficulty sleeping or sleep less because of various demands, whether it's work or family or wha.
