Hormones influence reproduction, mood, development, and growth. It’s no wonder, then, that they also can impact your eye health. Consequently, these chemical messengers to the endocrine glands called hormones can influence virtually everything about the body. In this post, we’ll explore hormonal eye changes and how they may impact your vision.
Progesterone and Estrogen
Progesterone and estrogen can greatly influence women’s eyesight. Imbalanced hormone levels can cause eye dryness due to the effect these levels have on the eye’s oil glands.
Estrogen can also make the cornea more elastic and less stiff, altering how low light travels in the eye. The result of this refraction can lead to blurry vision and dryness, which can impact a woman’s ability to wear contact lenses successfully. In most cases, when hormonal changes cause vision issues, a woman’s vision will usually correct when the hormones balance out.
Lubricating eye drops can remedy the problem when dealing with blurriness and dryness associated with changing hormonal levels.
Thyroid Hormones and Your Vision
Thyroid disease occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce the correct amount of hormones. Research has proven that individuals with an increased level of a specific type of thyroid hormone, the T4, have a greater risk of experiencing retinal changes and an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration.
Cortisol’s Impact on Your Vision
Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced by the endocrine glands. Its primary purpose is to regulate stress throughout the body while also preventing inflammation, controlling the circadian rhythm, and regulating blood pressure.
When cortisol significantly increases due to consistent and excessive stress, it can alter how blood flows between the eyes and the brain. Elevated cortisol levels also increase the risk of central serous chorioretinopathy — a condition that affects your central vision and can cause light or dark spots, blurriness, and straight lines to appear wavy.
Contact us Today
If you notice any sudden and significant vision changes or suspect that your hormones might alter your vision overall, contact us today to schedule an appointment at Abraham Eye Associates in Villanova and Newton Square, PA. Our skilled team of eye doctors is always here to help.
