Vitamins and Nutrients That Help Relieve Stress on Eyes

Stress is an unavoidable fact of life. Whether you’re experiencing stress from a project at school or work or due to a major life change, as soon as one cause of stress is under control, it seems like another one creeps up. Unfortunately, your body takes a lot of punches when you’re feeling stressed, especially the eyes. Stressed eyes are not healthy eyes. That’s why it’s important to learn about vitamins and nutrients that help relieve stress on the eyes.

You’ve probably heard the term “fight or flight” before. And, if you’ve ever experienced intense levels of stress, you know what this means – your body wants to either fight whatever is causing these feelings of panic, or to run away from them. This is because when stress levels rise, adrenaline begins to pump, blood pressure increases, and muscles become tense. There are such strong links between stress and the eyes because they rely on optimal blood flow and muscle health to function. There are also some other issues that cause your eyes to feel more stress than normal:

• Dry eye syndrome
• Eye strain (often from staring at computer and cell phone screens)
• Inflammation
• Various optical diseases
• Allergies

We can’t control our genetic disposition to be allergic to the pollen in the air, or whether we are at higher risk for certain eye diseases. However, we can control our diets. Luckily, there are a lot of vitamins for stress-related vision problems out there. It’s important to focus on a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients for your overall health, as well as to relax your eyes from stress. The following are some of the best vitamins for stress reduction.

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins for your vision, and it is one of the most effective in preventing stress-related vision problems. This essential vitamin aids in the formation of rhodopsin, which ensures the healthy function of the retina. It also reduces your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration by minimizing the excess free radicals in your eyes. And, researchers are finding that it is extremely helpful in reducing anxiety.

Vitamin A can help treat and prevent dry eye syndrome. When the eyes are dry, they can become irritated, red, and inflamed. Anyone who’s ever experienced having dry eyes knows how uncomfortable it can be! Vitamin A helps regulate the moisture levels in your cell membranes, which in turn helps prevent dry eye. It can also increase the moisture in already-dry eyes.

This vitamin is also great for reducing inflammation caused by superior limbic conjunctivitis. When you have this type of inflammation, your superior cornea and the connecting tissues can become swollen and irritated. Vitamin A reduces inflammation, which in turn reduces eye pain due to stress.

2. Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba is another supplement we’ve talked a lot about here on Rebuild Your Vision, and that’s because it does a lot for your vision. This herb comes from an ancient Chinese tree. People use it to treat different ailments, including health conditions in the eyes. After years of research, we know that ginkgo biloba is useful in regulating blood flow and circulation. Not only can it affect your blood pressure, but it can also increase the blood circulation to your eyes. This can help relax your eyes from stress. Plus, studies show that this herb can also help reduce stress in the body overall, making it one of the best vitamins for stress and anxiety.

First, ginkgo biloba helps stop the intraocular pressure in your eyes from increasing or building up. As you probably know, increased pressure in the eye can lead to glaucoma. By improving the blood flow to the optic nerve, glaucoma patients are able to slow down the progression of this disease. And, in some cases, they can even improve their vision.

Ginkgo biloba can also help fend off another common eye condition: diabetic retinopathy. For those who suffer from diabetes, eye health is closely tied to diabetes management. Diabetic retinopathy severely damages the blood vessels in the retina. Taking regular supplements of ginkgo biloba can prevent the onset of this condition. As you can see, it is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to relieving stressed eyes.

3. Lutein and Zeaxanthin

These two nutrients are part of the antioxidant family and are always associated with vitamins for eye health. Antioxidants in general are important for protecting the eye’s cells from free radicals and developing diseases like macular degeneration. Disease can put a lot of stress on your eyes, not to mention your overall physical and emotional stress. Prevention is the first step to saving your eyes from that stress.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are both anti-inflammatory agents, making them two of the best supplements to help with stress and anxiety. In addition to protecting against inflammation, they also live up to their nickname, “the eye vitamins,” as they are among the best vitamins for eye strain. Of the 600 different carotenoids found in nature, lutein and zeaxanthin are the only ones found in the macula. Ensuring you have enough of these two nutrients in your diet protects your eyes from macular degeneration. They also protect you from cataract development and even light sensitivity. They’re responsible for playing a part in protecting the lens, eye tissue, as well as the macula from oxidation. All of these conditions put a lot of pressure on your vision, so increasing your intake can certainly help relieve stress on your eyes.

4. Bilberries

Perhaps the most common cause of eye stress is eye strain. We are all guilty of staring at the computer screen too long or holding our cell phones too close. However, too much screen time can take a serious toll on your eyes. Not only can it cause eye strain and pain, but you can also suffer from eye fatigue and poor night vision. Spending too much time focusing on a screen that’s a foot from your face causes stressed eyes and blurry vision.

Bilberries have antioxidant properties that can help prevent damage to the eyes from free radicals and oxidation. Free radicals and oxidation are the most common ways stress affects eyesight in the form of blurry vision. Bilberries combat this stress by reducing the permeability of the capillaries in our eyes, which improves blood circulation. Through its support in producing rhodopsin, your eyes are able to see more clearly in dim lighting and maintain sharpness. Traditionally, bilberries have been used to relieve eye strain and the symptoms that come with it. This makes them an excellent stress reliever for the eyes.

Other Ways to Relieve Stressed Eyes

In addition to eating a healthy, balanced, eye-nutrient-rich diet, there are a couple of other ways to avoid stress-related vision problems. Take breaks when you’re working on a computer to allow your eyes to stop constricting and relax. Avoid smoking cigarettes, because they can cause and increase symptoms of dry eye syndrome, which in turn causes stressed eyes. Practice eye exercises that improve muscle strength, flexibility, and control.

Taking care of your eye health is no small feat; managing your stress is one aspect of maintaining your vision for the long term. It’s important to learn about stress and what it’s doing to your eyes to prevent some of the long-term negative impacts, and reading this article is a great first step in that process. If you experience discomfort or eye pain due to stress, it’s time to up your intake of these nutrients and to make some lifestyle changes to reduce stress. That’s just one more reason to prioritize self-care today.