TO YOUR HEALTH
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Visual Stress During the COVID Mess The Effects of Eye Stress and Tips for Good Vision Health
Visual Stress: Common Concerns We are all using digital devices, working much longer hours, and experiencing unprecedented visual fatigue from cumulative and near- constant demands. Adapting to our new normal has taught us a lot, but not without sacrifice. It is only natural that during a season of change and uncertainty comes stress. Changes in our vision are one of the many ways the body adjusts. These are among the most frequently occurring Vision and Eye consequences affecting our visual health. Computer Vision Syndrome From electronic devices, tablets, and e-readers to obsessive online video gaming, Computer Vision Syndrome is a real problem. It can cause muscu- loskeletal issues stemming from poor posture and visual changes including blurred vision and eyestrain. Treatment of this issue includes ergonomic adjustments to your workspace, anti-glare & blue blocking filters, proper lighting, increasing font size, taking frequent breaks, glasses correction, and oftentimes, lubricating drops. Blurred Vision As adrenaline increases within our body during stressful events, it causes the pupils to dilate. The response al- lows more light in, which causes in- creased light sensitivity and more blurred vision. This can also trigger headaches or migraines that can lead to episodes of blurred vision or blurred spots in vision. A less common occurrence is hys- terical vision loss , a type of vision im- pairment without a known structural or pathological cause. This is otherwise known as conversion disorder . The suppressed physical emotions (i.e., fear or anger) are manifesting as a true reduction in vision. We often see this in younger individuals who are under- going stressful home or environmental changes. Certain periods of high stress can also cause a condition called “Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.” Increased cortisol in the body can create fluid
BY STAN APPELBAUM, OD, FCOVD
With a pandemic hitting the US so hard, there is a lot of emotional stress. This is the obvious and ongoing effect that is much discussed. The less obvi- ous but no less damaging stress occu- ing is the hidden visual stress . Stress can be characterized as any change that disrupts the body’s normal mental, physical, or emotional balance. Right now, that describes so much of our COVID-induced daily lives. With stay at home orders, online classes, quarantines, remote learning obliga- tions for students, teleworking condi- tions for working adults, an unstable social climate, risk of getting infected, and the impending holidays upon us, you shouldn’t be surprised if you start to feel an eye twitch or two. However, in the many years I have been an eye doctor, I have never seen as much visual stress in my practice as I do now. For ourselves and for our families, it’s more important than ever to know what to expect and learn tips on how to manage it all. Visual stress encompasses many conditions. It can be the occasional eye twitch, eye dryness, eye strain, red- ness, scratchy eyes and irritation to the more serious and chronic blurred vi- sion, headaches, double vision, anxiety, digital eye strain, eye soreness, fatigue, and neck and/or shoulder discomfort or pain, or even an outright reluctance to read. The many ocular effects related to stress can range from mild visual discomfort to very significant vision problems causing children and adults to struggle at work and school, during sports and playtime, while reading at home or driving a car. I recently had to buy iPads for my grandkids start- ing Kindergarten. When I went to Montgomery County Maryland Public School, it was rare for anyone to even learn to read until 2nd grade! And no wonder it is rare to see newly graduat- ed doctors and lawyers without glass- es. Our eyes and visual system adjust to try to make everything clear at 20 inches. Over time, this requires most of us to become myopic (nearsighted), and we end up needing to use glasses to see at 20 feet.
Eileen Strange Messages to You through "Me”
Intuitive Empath Psychic Medium Medical Intuitive Empath Coach
www.thesoulshepherd.com 443-838-9147
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PATHWAYS—Winter 20-21—17
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