Anxiety and blurred vision: what causes it?

Anxiety and blurred vision are often related. If this is so, it is due to the great kaleidoscope of symptoms, manifestations and complex processes associated with this psychological condition. There are those who feel more pressure in their chest, others complain of stomach pain or muscle discomfort… And many suffer from these visual disturbances.

Now what is it about? How to differentiate it from an eye problem? The key is that this experience It always arises when the person goes through a moment of great emotional intensity. Blurry vision, like tunnel vision, does not appear at rest; On average, it is usually another symptom of panic attacks.

On the other hand also It is common for other types of sensations or curious alterations to arise, such as seeing flashesfeel pulsations in the eyeseeing shadows, feeling that vision becomes excessively bright, almost dreamlike… All of these descriptions are usually linked to states of great stress and anxiety. We analyze it.

Anxiety and blurred vision: manifestations, causes, treatment

We are all clear that when faced with any vision problem, the best thing to do is to always consult an ophthalmologist. However, There are manifestations that fall within the peculiar, that which happens from time to time and to which we do not give excessive importance. Likewise, when someone suffers from anxiety for a period of time, they end up experiencing so many symptoms, discomforts and sensations that they do not know exactly what could be psychosomatic and what could be the result of an organic or physiological problem.

From the field of ophthalmology it is well known that anxiety and blurred vision are closely related. What’s more, factors such as persistent stress and even depression often have their unique impact on eye health. For example, in a study at the University of California carried out by Dr. Amir Zarrinpar and his team, something striking could be seen.

People with major depression suffer greater problems in visual discrimination tasks. This perception becomes slower and, although the mechanisms of why it occurs are not yet known, we know that alterations in optical matter are common when there is some psychological condition of the state of mind. Let us therefore know the relationship between anxiety and blurred vision.

Vision disturbances and anxiety: what are the symptoms?

As we pointed out at the beginning, this characteristic in vision, if associated with anxiety, does not appear as a unique symptom. It usually appears with other manifestations. They are the following:

Rapid breathing, tachycardia.Feeling dizzy.Pressure in the chest or stomach.Sweating or chills. Dry mouth.Along with one or more of these symptoms, blurred vision, tunnel vision, visual distortions, seeing figures in the corner of the eye, etc.

What causes blurred vision when we experience anxiety?

Something that we must highlight is that this phenomenon is usually temporary and does not last long. Now, if anxiety and blurred vision appear together, it is basically due to three factors:

High anxiety comes as a result of an increase in adrenaline in the body.. This hormone prepares the body for defense or attack: it speeds up the heart, brings more oxygen to the muscles, puts it on alert… Now, What this chemical agent also causes is a dilation of the pupils. This effect facilitates greater entry of light and makes it difficult for us to focus. The eyes suffer, muscle tension is experienced and all of this generates blurred or even tunnel vision.Likewise, There is another determining factor: the increase in blood pressure. With greater anxiety, hypertension arises and this fact also impacts eye health. On the other hand, it also It is important to refer to panic attacks. These experiences are almost like a momentary explosion of symptoms in which the entire organism is altered. The energy expenditure is immense, so it is common for vision to be affected, even cloudy.

Anxiety and blurred vision, what can I do if it happens often?

The phenomenon of blurred vision associated with disorders such as stress, depression or anxiety is usually temporary. Thus, and as we have pointed out, it is accompanied by a wide range of symptoms, which are generally more annoying: headaches, insomnia, digestive disorders, muscle pain…

The most important thing is to rule out visual problems first. To do this, it never hurts to consult with an ophthalmologist. Once we are clear that there is no problem with eye health, it is time to focus on the root of the problem: anxiety.

The ideal in these cases, and even more so if we have been experiencing said symptoms for a long time, is have the help of a professional. It is clear that each person can carry out particular strategies, but the best thing is for someone to guide us, to enable us so that we can face difficulties, fears and problems on our own, being more competent, more capable.

The three techniques that can help us the most in these cases are the following:

Cognitive techniques such as cognitive restructuring. Thanks to it we will work on those thoughts that limit us, that hinder our potential and well-being.Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation technique and diaphragmatic breathing. Both are very suitable for regulating our physiological activity. Finally, It is also interesting to work (according to our needs) on aspects such as social skillsemotional management, acceptance and commitment to ourselves, etc.

Coping with anxiety always starts from each person’s personal reality. That is the starting point, that is the path we must follow day by day to gain quality of life and well-being.

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