People often say that eyes are a window to the soul, but they can also be a window into mental health. Vision is the most important sense to many people and issues with eyes and vision can take its toll on your emotional well-being in addition to your health. Research suggests that mental health and eye health are closely related and this means that good eye health could improve your mental well-being.
Eye Health’s Impact on Mental Health
If someone is having trouble with their vision, this could have a big impact on their mental and physical health. For example, if you are suffering from blurred vision then this could require greater energy to see as well as cause stress and anxiety. This can then lead to a range of mental health issues that can be difficult to resolve.
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In addition to this, there are types of eye diseases and visual impairments that can lead to depression and anxiety. Even something mild like dry eye syndrome can take its toll, especially if this interferes with people’s abilities to conduct normal activities like driving or reading. At the more extreme end, conditions like advanced cataracts can easily lead to depression as the condition gets worse over time and can even lead to blindness if untreated.
Social Impact
Many eye conditions can lead to mental health issues due to a difficulty in carrying out daily activities, but this is not the only reason. Many people also find that they become less social with eye conditions because they feel embarrassed. This can very quickly lead to social anxiety and isolation out of fear of making vision-related mistakes.
What Can You do to Help Yourself?
It is clear that eye health can have a big impact on mental health and life in general. Prevention is the best form of defense, so you should practice good eye health by giving your eyes a break from screens and getting your eyes checked on a regular basis. If you ever experience any changes in your vision or discomfort, you should arrange an appointment with an optometrist. They will be able to determine what the issue is and find the best solution, such as prescribing contact lenses to address vision issues.
The impact of eye issues on mental health is clear, but you will also find that treatment can often be highly effective and this can give your mental health a boost. This is evident with laser eye surgery, which many people find to be life-changing and can greatly improve mood, confidence and mental health.
Many people would state that vision is their most important sense. It is understandable then that issues relating to eyes and vision can take its toll on mental health and lead to many serious issues, which is why people should take eye health seriously and seek help when required.
Read more mental health articles at ClichéMag.com
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