Stating that depression and eye problems negatively affect each other mutually, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Levent Akçay warned that if the problem is not eliminated, it leads to a decrease in work efficiency, a decrease in quality of life and even depression.

Depression and eye problems can feed on each other and lead to serious eye problems. Patients, especially those with vision problems, can experience severe emotional depression due to the obstacles they face in their social and professional lives. It is popularly believed that depression is a disorder that is caused only by emotional problems and has no physical effects. However, eye health problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, blurred vision, etc. can lead to feelings of tension, anxiety and fear that trigger depression. High-paced work life, family problems or daily troubles are among the factors that trigger depression. In cases where this stress and tension becomes chronic, increased levels of adrenaline in the body can lead to problems in the nervous system and oppression of the eye. Likewise, eye problems that are not diagnosed on time can lead people to unhappiness and depression due to the difficulties they create in both social and business life.
Your eye health may be the trigger of depression
People with vision loss who are not diagnosed in time may face the danger of depression. In some cases, despite the application of certain treatments, depression is highly likely to occur in patients with vision levels that prevent them from performing their daily tasks. In particular, patients with age-related macular degeneration, which causes a significant proportion of vision loss, may face a serious risk of depression as vision loss is added to the physical difficulties of advancing age. At the same time, vision loss can lead to feelings that trigger depression, such as tension, anxiety and fear. For this reason, regular eye examinations for people with symptoms of vision loss are of great importance in terms of both restoring vision and eliminating the risk of depression.
Depression also accelerates vision loss
Depression can have many negative effects on the body, not only emotionally but also physically. It is commonly believed that depression is a condition that is caused only by emotional problems and has no physical effects. However, in addition to the emotional problems it causes, depression can also cause physical problems such as loss of appetite, confinement and deprivation of sunlight, exercise, disturbances in sleep patterns, headaches and muscle aches. Especially lack of sunlight and disturbances in sleep patterns are among the factors that increase the pressure on the eyes and cause problems that can lead to serious vision loss. It is also a well-known fact that antidepressant drugs used for depression can cause vision problems as well as fatigue, dry mouth and dizziness.
Antidepressant users should not neglect eye health
Problems that may occur in the eyes due to depression and antidepressant use may be temporary or permanent. In people who live under constant stress and struggle with depression; it is of great importance to take into account symptoms such as flashes of light, blurred vision, narrowing of the visual field, seeing objects that are not at the edges of the eye, focusing problems and constantly increasing the number of glasses. It is especially recommended that people who use medications such as antidepressants should have regular eye examinations. People who think they are depressed or who use antidepressant medications should not neglect the detection and treatment of eye disorders that may occur.

April 2024