Living with an eye condition can be stressful, but your body might also be reacting to stress in ways that affect your vision. A review of 35 studies looked at how the body's stress response system—specifically hormones like glucocorticoids—impacts eye health. These chemicals are essential for managing inflammation and immune responses.
The research found that when the body's stress systems get out of balance, it can influence several key processes. This includes how your eyes regulate pressure, how they handle inflammation, and how blood vessels behave. These factors are all linked to conditions like glaucoma, ocular surface disease, and central serous chorioretinopathy.
While glucocorticoids are necessary tools for treating certain eye diseases, they can cause side effects like high eye pressure or cataracts if not managed correctly. This work suggests that looking at how stress affects the body could help doctors create more personalized care plans for patients with chronic eye conditions.
