Hormones: How Do They Affect Your Vision and Eye Health?

Hormones influence mood, metabolism, reproduction, growth and development. They are chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that travel in your bloodstream to organs or tissues. Even a slight shift in their levels can significantly impact your body. Moreover, hormonal changes can occur through different phases of your life. 

A local eye specialist explains how hormones can affect your vision. 

Estrogen and Progesterone

Puberty

Most hormone-related vision changes in females occur due to estrogen. This hormone can reduce the stiffness of the cornea, affecting how light passes through the eye. During puberty, a girl’s estrogen levels can suddenly increase, elevating the risk of myopia or nearsightedness. 

Pregnancy

When a woman is pregnant, their body will constantly go through surges of estrogen and progesterone. An increase in these hormones can cause blurred vision or difficulty in focusing. Fortunately, vision issues during pregnancy are not permanent and resolve weeks following delivery. If eye problems persist after giving birth, set an appointment with your local eye clinic. Eye doctors have the skills, tools and equipment to properly diagnose vision and eye conditions. 

Menopause

Hormonal changes during menopause can also impact one’s vision. There is a substantial reduction in estrogen and progesterone levels in this stage of a woman’s life. As a result, they might experience difficulty reading small text or seeing nearby objects. Lower levels of estrogen in menopause can contribute to the development of dry eyes.

Testosterone

Effects on Vision in Men

Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, can also affect vision and eye health. Low testosterone levels can reduce tear production, potentially causing dry eye syndrome. It’s a condition that occurs due to poor production of quality tears necessary to nourish the eyes. Light sensitivity, blurred vision, watery eyes, redness and stinging sensations are common dry eye symptoms. Middle-aged men are more prone to this eye condition because of lower testosterone levels. 

Effects on Vision in Women

A woman’s body also produces testosterone, and abnormal levels of this hormone can impact their eyes. For instance, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) tend to have dry eyes due to increased testosterone. Excessive androgens or male hormones can cause cysts and ovulation problems. 

 

Thyroid Hormone

Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism or the process of converting food into energy. They also play a crucial role in an infant’s brain development. These hormones come from the thyroid gland, which you will find at the front of your neck. 

Changes in the levels of thyroid hormones can occur due to autoimmune disease. For instance, in people with Graves’ disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to make excessive thyroid hormone. Patients with this autoimmune condition may experience difficulty closing their lids, and their eyes might bulge forward. It is also a struggle for them to produce sufficient quality tears, increasing their risk for dry eye syndrome. 

Insulin

The pancreas creates insulin, a hormone that helps convert food into energy and manages blood sugar levels. If your pancreas fails to produce insulin or your body can’t utilize the hormone, you could develop diabetes. Diabetes patients are at higher risk of developing macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. These conditions can cause vision loss. However, early detection and treatment can help slow their progression and preserve vision. 

Cortisol

A steroid hormone, cortisol comes from the endocrine glands. Its primary function is to regulate how your body responds to stress. Cortisol helps regulate blood pressure and sugar, control circadian rhythm, and prevent inflammation. This hormone is also essential to your metabolism. 

Your cortisol levels can significantly increase if you are constantly stressed. It can affect the blood flow between the eye and the brain, resulting in vision changes. Elevated cortisol levels can increase the risk of stress-related macular degeneration. It can potentially cause learning disabilities in children, requiring them to go through speech or vision therapy.

Tips to Maintain Healthy Eyes and Preserve Vision

Schedule Regular Eye Exams

Routine eye exams are essential for maintaining optimal eye health. They help in the early detection and treatment of conditions that can lead to vision loss. Comprehensive eye exams are also helpful in detecting signs of other health problems, such as diabetes and hypertension. 

You will know if your eyeglass or contact lens prescription has changed with regular visits to your eye doctor. For instance, a contact eye exam will allow your eye specialist to trace changes in your vision and recommend more appropriate corrective lenses. 

Quit Smoking 

People who smoke are four times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is an eye condition that affects central vision. Sufferers often find it challenging to read, drive and recognize faces. It can lead to irreversible vision loss and complete blindness when not treated immediately. 

Smoking also increases the risk of cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, uveitis and dry eye syndrome. Quitting this poor habit will benefit the eyes and overall health. 

Eat Nourishing Meals

What you eat can influence your eye health and vision. Studies show that eating well-rounded meals can reduce your risk of developing dry eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, AMD and other eye conditions. Consume more foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E. 

Get Sufficient Sleep

Your eyes require at least five hours of sleep each night to remain healthy and functional. Insufficient rest can result in eye spasms. These twitches might not cause pain, but they can be bothersome. Luckily, they are temporary and will resolve after you have enough quality sleep. 

Exercise Regularly 

Besides keeping you at a healthy weight and aiding endorphin production, regular exercise is good for eye health. Several studies found that daily movement helps prevent AMD, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and other eye diseases.