Unconventional Factors Affecting Eye Health

5 min readDec 12, 2023

These unusual aspects are causing a reduction in eye health and a sharp sense of sight. It includes Stress, hormones, seasons, bacteria, ozone, UV rays- Image Designed in Canva

You’ve probably read a lot about holy advice to cut screen time, eat healthy diets, avoid insane junks, blink your eyes in dark starry nights while looking at the skies, and drink carrot syrups and fish meat to get sharp eyesight and avoid blinking or starring at whiteboard in class from backbenches. Without a doubt, they are great practices; nonetheless, there are certain out-of-the-box things (not for us, but we normally do not consider them about our gorgeous eyes).

These unusual aspects that are causing the reduction in eye health and a sharp sense of sight are the following:

Hormonal Imbalance
Winters
Lack of Exercise
Natural Eye bacteria
Ozone depletion
Family History
Stress

Hormonal Imbalance

In addition to mood swings, acne, hair loss, behaviors, and reproductive health, hormonal imbalance can cause ocular problems such as dry eyes and eye itching. It has been observed that the size of the eyeballs elongates throughout puberty, which can cause puberty myopia in developing youngsters. An imbalance in estrogen and progesterone in females can cause dry eyes by affecting the oil glands in our eyes. As a result, birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause may be significant points in a woman’s life when she needs appropriate eye care. Males need appropriate eye care when their testosterone levels are low. When testosterone levels fall, guys get similar ocular dryness [1].

Winters

The combination of winter dryness and low natural light exposure can cause eye strain, impairing the eyes’ overall health. Prolonged exposure to artificial lights and little daylight can cause eye strain, potentially impairing vision. Snow reflects sunlight, especially damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can increase the amount of time the eyes are exposed to these rays. Snow blindness or photokeratitis, a disorder comparable to sunburn but affecting the cornea of the eye, is caused by this reflection. Freezing temperatures also constrict the blood vessels in the eyes, and this can cause your vision to become blurry [2] [3].

Lack of Exercise

We are not discussing specific eyeball exercises here, but rather how our daily physical activity affects our eye health. Exercise may promote healthy blood vessels in the eye, resulting in increased blood flow. People with pre-existing eye illnesses frequently heal faster and better when they engage in regular exercise such as running, walking, or jogging, or when they participate in sports. Any modest amount of aerobic activity is included. The best part is that exercise protects us from visual loss caused by aging.

Natural Eye Bacteria

The eyes harbor a diverse array of bacteria as part of their normal microbiome. Some of the common bacteria found in the eyes include:

Staphylococcus epidermidis: This bacterium is a normal inhabitant of the skin and mucous membranes and is commonly found on the surface of the eye.
Streptococcus pneumoniae: This bacterium is a part of the normal respiratory flora and can also be found on the surface of the eyes.
Corynebacterium: These bacteria are commonly found on the skin and mucous membranes and are part of the normal flora of the eyes.
Propionibacterium acnes: These bacteria are commonly found on the skin and are also part of the normal microbiota of the eyes.

The composition of the ocular microbiome can vary between individuals, and maintaining a balance of these bacteria is important for eye health. These bacteria can contribute to the overall defense against pathogens and help maintain the health of the ocular surface. Disruptions in the normal microbiome can sometimes lead to eye infections or other ocular conditions. It is useful to know that makeup exchanges and not maintaining good hygiene can disrupt the bacteria [4] [5].

Ozone depletion

Over time, continuous air pollution depletes the protective ozone layer. Long-term UV ray exposure causes various eye disorders associated with poor air quality, including pingueculae, pterygia, cortical cataracts, and photokeratitis.

Family History

Several eye disorders, such as refractive defects (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism), glaucoma, muscular degeneration, and cataracts, might have a genetic component, which increases the probability of inheriting these conditions if they run in the family. Individuals can take proactive measures to reduce potential dangers and preserve good eye health. Regular eye exams are critical for early detection and management of any growing problems. Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, frequent exercise, and not smoking benefits general eye health. Using the 20–20–20 rule during screen usage reduces eye strain. Furthermore, understanding and discussing your family’s eye health history with your eye care specialist enables targeted recommendations and screenings, maximizing preventive efforts.

Stress

Stress, in some ways, causes hormonal imbalance, which is related to what we discussed in point number one. However, because stress causes high cortisol levels in our bodies, it can cause a reduction in blood flow to the brain, diminishing your ability to see the world. High cortisol levels might also lead to muscular deterioration. Anxiety can aggravate pre-existing eye disorders such as glaucoma and optic neuropathy, potentially leading to total vision loss over time. Other common stress-related eye disorders include light sensitivity, fuzzy vision, tunnel vision, eye floaters, and eye strain.

The conclusion is that by acknowledging these often overlooked elements, individuals can make informed choices to protect and promote their vision, beyond the conventional practices commonly associated with eye health. What affects your eyesight badly? Please write down in the comments.