At Advanced Eyecare & Therapies, we often encounter patients unaware of how their nervous system can significantly affect their vision and eye health. A big part of this is the sympathetic nervous system, which may get too active at times, leading to a condition known as excessive sympathetic innervation. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for your eyes and overall well-being.
Understanding the Sympathetic Nervous System
The sympathetic nervous system is an integral part of our body's response to stress.
You've likely been in situations of acute stress where your heart starts racing, blood pressure's going all the way up, and every part of you is on high alert. This response is your body's way of gearing up for 'fight or flight' in the face of immediate danger.
However, when this feeling stays activated all the time, this is known as excessive sympathetic innervation. It often feels like having a well-meaning but overbearing friend who just doesn't know when to take a break.
Symptoms of Excessive Sympathetic Innervation
When the sympathetic nervous system is overstimulated, it impacts multiple body functions, including vision and eye health. Symptoms may include:
- Blurred Vision: Difficulty focusing clearly due to excessive sympathetic stimulation.
- Pupil Dilation: Increased light sensitivity and challenges in adapting to light changes.
- Dry Eyes: Reduced tear production, causing irritation and discomfort.
- Eye Fatigue: Prolonged strain and discomfort affecting daily activities.
Symptoms of excessive sympathetic innervation can be mistaken for other conditions, so It's important not to jump to conclusions. For instance, what looks like excessive sympathetic innervation could be Horner's syndrome, ocular migraines, or dry eye syndrome. These conditions share similar symptoms with excessive sympathetic innervation but require different solutions.
How To Manage Excessive Sympathetic Innervation
- Stress Management: Incorporating relaxation techniques into your daily routine can help calm the sympathetic nervous system.
- Medication: In some cases, medications like alpha-blockers are prescribed to regulate sympathetic activity.
- Vision Therapy: Customized exercises designed to improve eye coordination and alleviate strain.
- Lifestyle Changes: Adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Syntonics Light Therapy: A Beacon of Hope
At Advanced Eyecare & Therapies, we have expertise in a unique management approach known as syntonics light therapy. This therapy uses different colors of light to balance the nervous system, thereby reducing excessive sympathetic innervation.
Another reason this is a great solution is that it is straightforward and effective – patients simply look at a specific color filter for ten minutes daily to significantly improve their visual function and overall well-being.
Introduced to syntonics in 1993, Dr. Wylie has pioneered this therapy to manage excessive sympathetic innervation, and the results have been nothing short of wonderful, profoundly impacting our patients' health.
Vision Therapy and Other Optometric Services at Advanced Eyecare & Therapies
If you are experiencing symptoms related to excessive sympathetic innervation, especially if they affect your vision, contact Dr. Wylie and our Advanced Eyecare & Therapies team for comprehensive, personalized care.
Your journey to better eye health and overall well-being starts here.