Can Psychological Stress Cause Vision Loss?

Researchers report persistent psychological stress can contribute to the development and progression of vision loss.

Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Psychological Stress to Combat Vision Loss

A study found that persistent psychological stress significantly influences the onset and progression of vision loss. The clinical implications of this finding include recommendations to improve clinical relationships with patients as well as to provide antidepressant medications and psychological counseling to disrupt the vicious cycle of depression and ongoing vision loss.

Research on relationship between stress and ophthalmologic illnesses, based on thorough review of hundreds of clinical reports and published studies. Other case reports demonstrated how stress causes vision loss and how reducing stress contributes to vision recovery.

Prolonged stress and elevated cortisol levels adversely affect the eye and brain due to the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic) imbalance and vascular deregulation. Emphasizing that both the eye and the brain play roles in vision loss. A fact often overlooked by medical professionals and unregistered in the medical literature.

The Impact of Physician Communication on Vision Loss: Enhancing Care with Stress Reduction and Optimism

The behavior and words of the treating physician can have far-reaching effects on the diagnosis of vision loss. Many patients receive the message that their disease is severe and should prepare for potential blindness. Although this is far from certain, complete blindness almost never occurs. The ensuing fears and anxieties are a double-edged mental and psychological burden with physical consequences that often exacerbate the condition.

Researchers believe that this approach could be used more effectively in the clinical management of eye diseases. They suggest recommending stress reduction and relaxation techniques (e.g., meditation, autogenic training, stress management, and psychotherapy) not only as complements to traditional treatment for vision loss but also as preventative measures to reduce vision loss progression. Secondly, physicians should do their best to instill hope and optimism while providing their patients with the information they need, especially about the important value of stress reduction.