Researchers have connected quality of life with many eye conditions including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and other conditions.

• Glaucoma

  Researchers have associated a life of stressful experience with glaucoma, finding that anxiety/depression are higher in patients with un-diagnosed glaucoma. In other words, the anxiety/depression are not caused by the patient being aware of their condition. ³ Scientists have pointed to stress as a cause of glaucoma. Since the late 1990’s scientists have indicated that stress is a major factor in both acute closed-angle glaucoma and open-angle glacuoma.

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• Macular Degeneration & Stress

  While it is clear from the research that patients with macular degeneration have higher rates of anxiety and depression, those conditions as a contributing cause are not so clear. There are anecdotal reports that macular degeneration patients feel that their vision is worse when they are stressed. In part, this ties back to the glaucoma research. When stressed, we breathe more shallowly. When we breathe more shallowly the body and the retina get less oxygen and vision worsens. This is one reason why eye exercises like palming are so helpful. As we relax away from staring at the computer (for example) our breathing improves and our entire system, including our eyes, normalizes a bit.

  Wet macular degeneration is associated with inflammation and so there is a likely connection between stress and wet AMD. Researchers at Ohio State University have begun an NIH-sponsored study to determine whether or not the connection is causative.⁴

• Cataracts

  One of the contributing causes of cataracts is over-consumption of alcohol. More than one alcoholic drink a day doubles the risk of developing cataracts. While the causal relationship is indirect, it is true that stress due to any number of psychological reasons can cause alcoholism. Chronic physical stress due to injury, dental pain, or stress-related restricted movement of the head and neck also increases the risk of cataracts. As discussed above the experience of feeling stressed limits the amount of oxygen we can take in which in turn starves the cells of the body, including the eyes, of oxygen.

• Central Serous Choroidopathy

  Central Serous Choiroidopathy (CSC) has a clear tie to stress. Most patients with CSC are young men with aggressive “type A” personalities, and their experience of feeling stressed, under pressure and overwhelmed is an important risk factor. These “type A” personalities often also experience hypertension, lowered immunity and sleeping problems, all of which are associated with the body’s inability to cope with stress.⁵

• Macular Edema

  Type A personalities are also at greater risk of developing macular edema than most people and it often appears in times of acute stress.

• Asthenopia (tired eyes) and Computer Vision Syndrome

  Researchers evaluating the habits of Chinese college students found that mental status was an important factor in whether they suffered from asthenopia.⁶ Similarly, researchers found that psychosocial factors were part of the contributing factors to call center employees in Brazil.⁷

• Dry eyes

  A meta-analysis (a study evaluating eleven studies) of metabolic syndrome risk factors and dry eye syndrome found that hypertension, one symptom of inability to physical cope (often expressed as frequent anger or anxiety) with stress was a risk factor for dry eye syndrome.⁸ Another study found that use of anti-hypertensive medications was also a factor. And yet another study of more than 300 bank employees found that those with a type A personality were more likely to experience dry eye syndrome.⁹