The saying goes: "The eyes are the windows to the soul". Well, they may also hold some important insights about the state of your health. But what can your eyes tell about your adrenal glands? Let's find out!
The state of your adrenal glands is often the result of your stress levels. And you first experience stress in your brain.
Your brain’s hypothalamus region first detects stress, and using chemical messengers, alerts your pituitary gland, which in turn, alerts the adrenals that your body is under attack. These three organs form the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. This sets in motion what we refer to as the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response. The NEM stress response comprises six circuits that work together to help your body deal with stress.
Once your NEM springs into action, your body immediately undergoes a series of automatic reactions so you can deal with the source of the stress reaction. One of these is an increase in cortisol production by your adrenal glands. In today's world where we encounter chronic stress, the constantly elevated cortisol production could lead to adrenal fatigue.
Your brain, together with your autonomic nervous system and microbiome, form part of your Neuroaffect Circuit of your NEM response. Your autonomic nervous system, in turn, consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Both these networks, involved in your stress response, are connected to your eyes. This means that your eyes could very well show symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
Your eyes react to different situations by dilating and constricting. When you are tired or relaxed, for example, they tend to constrict, but when excited or experiencing negativity, they tend to dilate.
Although the movements mentioned may be subtle, they do indicate the presence or absence of stress.
But besides the expansion or contraction of your pupils, stress also plays a role in the development of certain eye issues. In some cases, like in central serous chorioretinopathy, the medical profession has no idea about what causes the condition. They do, however, know it is often associated with psychological stress and raised cortisol levels.
Furthermore, your brain regulates your circadian rhythm through hormones. These hormones also work as neurotransmitters in your brain. Your eyes are connected to your circadian biology because they give the light and dark information needed by these hormones to determine your waking and sleeping cycles.
During periods of stress, your NEM response may see a decline in the production of these hormones. And someone with adrenal fatigue may see an imbalance in them due to the extra cortisol produced. So we often find persons with adrenal fatigue having sleep issues.
CSC is a condition where fluid collects in specific areas of the retina. This may cause a blurred area in the center of your vision. As mentioned, the condition has aspects of psychological stress and anxiety attached.
People with adrenal fatigue often experience dark circles under their eyes. There are two possible reasons for this.
Firstly, a lack of sleep is common when you suffer from adrenal fatigue. There is much literature explaining the impact of adrenal fatigue and how it affects your circadian rhythm and may lead to insomnia. Dark circles under the eyes often indicate a lack of sleep.
Secondly, adrenal fatigue is also linked to liver and kidney difficulties. These organs often experience much pressure to circulate hormones and may struggle to get rid of toxins. This often manifests in the form of dark circles under your eyes.
You may often experience eye twitches when under stress. Remember, stress impacts your NEM response and adrenal glands. Therefore, this twitching action may indicate your adrenal glands are at work producing more cortisol. This could also occur when your electrolytes are imbalanced, so it is important to check your electrolytes.
Light sensitivity is a symptom of adrenal fatigue. It is caused by imbalances in your sodium and potassium levels. This is because a stressed body uses certain minerals faster than others. Our bodies, however, need these minerals for many different functions, include the response of pupils when exposed to lights.
Many people do not realize that overtaxed eyes and eye strain could negatively affect their adrenal fatigue. When staring at a computer screen for too long, for example, you could develop eye strain which your brain sees as stress. This stress could further increase your body’s demand for cortisol production and add to your adrenal load. Eye strain is also associated with long periods of stress.
Studies show that stress, a major factor in the development of adrenal fatigue, could cause dry eyes. This may result from poor sleep quality. But this very issue could also cause an increase in tear secretion.
Temporary tunnel vision, or temporary loss of peripheral vision, may result from higher adrenaline levels associated with stress.
Severe stress and anxiety result in high adrenaline levels that could cause pressure on your eyes. This may result in blurred vision.
When looking at the various eye symptoms associated with adrenal function, we find one commonality: stress. Stress may not only cause various eye issues but also impact adrenal health. So what can you do to address this issue?
A few things you can consider when it comes to the impact of stress on your adrenal glands and eyes include:
If you are suffering from eye issues and wondering whether your adrenals are to blame:
If you would like to know more about what can your eyes tell about your adrenal glands, the team at Dr. Lam Coaching can help. We offer a free** no-obligation phone consultation at +1 (626) 571-1234 where we will privately discuss your symptoms and various options. You can also send us a question through our Ask The Doctor system by clicking here.
What can your eyes tell about your adrenal glands? They can give a good indication of your health and when things are going wrong. You may develop certain eye symptoms that seem insignificant. But, you may find that your eyes provide much information about your adrenal glands and overall health.
