How Do Anxiety and depression affect our vision?

• December 18, 2024

Among the known mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression, there have been speculations that they influence the patients’ vision condition along with their emotions. Many studies have been carried out to find a correlation between anxiety and depression and its impact on the eyes. Let’s analyze this phenomenon.

Anxiety affecting eyes and vision quality

These effects may manifest themselves in many ways, and the eyes are unfortunately no exception. In some instances, the effects of anxiety on the eyes lead to people having blurred vision and sensitivity to light. On some occasions, tunnel vision happens during a particular anxiety attack. 

This can be due to the so-called fight or flight; it alters the biological factors that determine experience with the environment. For instance, under pressure, pupils dilate to allow improved vision although the effects lead to squinting due to inflammation and blurring of vision as a consequence of excessive light exposure.

Visual symptoms associated with anxiety

Different anxiety signs impacting eyes may however look different in different people. Common manifestations include:

• Blurred Vision: This is a common problem of difficulty focusing on objects thereby causing blur in what one sees.
• Sensitivity to Light: Many anxious individuals report discomfort in bright environments, making it challenging to be outdoors without sunglasses.

• Eye Strain: Prolonged periods of stress can result in significant eye strain, leading to discomfort and fatigue.

These symptoms demonstrate a link of anxiety affecting the eyes. They show how a person's emotional state affects their ability to perceive visual information. This should be considered while developing effective treatment approaches to improve a patient's mental and visual aspects.

Depression's effect on eyes and visual perception 

Depression's effect on the eyes has been discovered to impact a person’s visual quality in different ways. Research shows that patients with depression view the world differently and will refer to visual experiences as being dull or with a lack of colour. 

This condition is known as reduced contrast sensitivity. It impairs the patient’s ability to understand the difference between subtle changes in shades. Thus, the depression effect on the eyes makes the patients see the world as too ‘grey’ and unexciting.

Impact of depression on visual functions

Besides contrast sensitivity, depression's effect on the eyes not only dims the vision by tiring the receptors in the eyes but also affects them in other ways. Those experiencing depression may also suffer from:

• Visual Field Defects: There have been findings that depressed people have different impairments of visual tendency. Some of the effects may include their visual field shrinking. This makes them experience difficulty in performing daily life activities. 
• Eye Floaters and Spots: Common visual complications like floaters can become more noticeable in patients with depression. This affects a patient's vision, leading to a compromise in their quality of life and making them unable to perform tasks that necessitate clear sight.

The cycle of vision loss and mental health

There is a cyclical relationship between depression, anxiety, and vision. Visual loss may worsen mental health conditions; this brings about isolation, anxiety, and depression among people. For instance, people with impaired vision are highly likely to develop mental health problems as they navigate a challenging visual world, which poses stress and anxiety. This loop makes it necessary to fight vision problems alongside emotional and mental disorders at the same time.

Seek treatment and support

Patients must treat both anxiety and depression to improve their vision health and vice-versa. People experiencing related signs of mental conditions are advised to consult professional help. Treatments may involve:

• Vision Therapy: Visual issues due to anxiety and depression can be addressed by a certified optometrist. Vision training can possibly be used to help fix eye problems if necessary and make the person more comfortable.
• Mental Health Counseling: Counseling is useful while treating anxiety and depression; in particular, it positively impacts a person’s general health, including vision. Thus, you can get relief from issues of depression and anxiety affecting your eyes. 
• Medication: Sometimes, medications used for anxiety or depression can also decrease the symptoms of visual disturbances. However, this requires additional attention to the possible side effects since some drugs can worsen a patient's vision.

Protect your vision health with the right medical assistance 

​Mental health problems can greatly alter a person’s vision and their ability to navigate their environment, whether it is nearsightedness or farsightedness caused by anxiety or depression.​ The presence of visual impairments related to these mental disorders makes it evident that there is a need to appreciate the integrated treatment approaches. Treating both mental and vision-related issues is a way of ensuring that individuals can regain not only their mental health but also improved vision and the quality of life they lost out on.

Residents in Kanpur in need of such services should consult an Eye Specialist in Kanpur at God Service Eye Clinic. Building upon the idealogy of Late Dr Mahmood Rehmani, his daughter Dr. Arhsiya Rehmani and his team offers top eye health services that also considering effetc of brain health on eyes. Through their eye health care, they also wish to offer hope to those who are living with those cyclic challenges.