Is Anxiety Linked to Vision Problems?

Anxiety and stress are part of everyday life and, in moderation, can be healthy and even beneficial. However, when it becomes extreme and/or prolonged, anxiety can have many detrimental effects on the body. 

One of these is problems relating to vision.

Before we continue, it’s important to stress that many vision issues are not stress or anxiety-related. If you’re experiencing any abnormalities with your eyesight, the first course of action is to book an appointment with your eye doctor. 

Illness and disease can also cause the body to become stressed. If you have any medical conditions or are concerned that you might, then speak to your healthcare provider.

It’s All About the Stress Response

• Why is anxiety linked to vision problems?
• Adrenaline and cortisol 
• Typical manifestations of anxiety linked to vision problems 

Why is anxiety linked to vision problems?

Prolonged anxiety can cause a whole host of symptoms within the human body. Let’s concentrate on how this might affect the eyes. 

When we experience stress, we trigger what’s known as a “fight or flight” response. In short, this harps back to our Neanderthal roots, which meant that when danger was present the body either needed to be primed to get away from whatever the risk was—AKA, flight—or turn round and meet it head-on—fight.

Now, while we’re unlikely to have to run away from a wild animal or square up to something that wants to steal the meat from your freshly hunted mammoth, anxiety and stress still cause the body to respond in the same way as it did for our ancestors.

This makes the muscles tense up, blood vessels will constrict, and the pupils will dilate.

While such bodily functions usually subside when the threat is gone, sustained levels of anxiety can mean that these pressure responses continue for extended periods.

Adrenaline and cortisol

The fight or flight response causes two hormones—adrenaline and cortisol— to be released into the bloodstream. This gives the body the boost it needs to either run fast or turn around and defend itself against the threat.

Without getting too technical, this increase in hormones is driven by the nervous system and creates the necessary intra-body environment to get you through the moment. However, ongoing stress can cause the adrenaline and cortisol levels to remain abnormally high for longer. And it’s this that can create unwanted visual problems.

Typical manifestations of anxiety linked to vision problems

Anxiety-related vision problems might appear as:

• Sensitivity to light
• Visual distortions
• A pulsing in the vision
• Difficulty focusing
• Seeing halos, stars, blurs, shadows, flashes, or other irregularities
• Double vision
• Static objects appearing to slightly shimmer or vibrate
• Flickering vision (one or both eyes)
• Tunnel vision
• Momentarily brightening or dimming of vision
• Seeing phantom movements or objects in the corner of your eye

This list is by no means exhaustive but gives an idea of how stress and anxiety might affect your eyesight.

Vision problems linked to anxiety can occur temporarily, persistently, in one or both eyes, or even alternate between the two. They might also be worse when you’re tired.

The good news is that much can be done to help reduce vision problems caused by stress or anxiety. Removing the source of the issue is key—but first, you need to determine that any vision problems aren’t caused by a physical abnormality. So guess what? Your first port of call should be an in-depth eye examination carried out by your eye doctor. 

Once you have the results of this, then the appropriate steps can be taken to address the problem.

Worried About Anxiety & Vision Problems? Contact the West Boca Eye Center Today 

Anxiety and stress can be strange things, with many of us not even realizing that we’re affected. Our 24/7 lifestyle, constant pressures from work/family/our peers, underlying medical conditions… Even the food we eat can trigger a stress response within the body.

The key takeaway is that if you’ve noticed any visual changes—or you haven’t been diligent about having regular eye tests—then you need to see an ophthalmologist.

And there’s nowhere better to entrust your eye health than the WBEC. 

Discover more about us at https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ and call our friendly team today to book an appointment.

Anxiety and stress are part of everyday life and, in moderation, can be healthy and even beneficial. However, when it becomes extreme and/or prolonged, anxiety can have many detrimental effects on the body.