We have all heard how people can see red when they are angry, and being chronically stressed will make many of us quicker to anger. Now of course no one literally sees everything in front of their eyes to be red when they are furious, and anger usually passes. Stress and anxiety though? Not so much, and especially if the stressors or causes of anxiety are present from one day to the next. There are ways to change your outlook and it’s fair to say that eight times out of 10 things really aren’t so bad. So, you may not be seeing things that way, but can anxiety cause eye problems?

Turns out anxiety and eye issues are a legitimate concern, and there are specific physiological workings to why people with anxiety can have problems with their eyes. When a person is extremely anxious their pupils dilate, and this is connected to the body’s adrenalin-based fight-or-flight response to perceived dangers. You may not be in danger, but the body has a wide-reaching net when it comes to these perceptions. So, in relation to can anxiety cause eye problems what happens is the dilated pupils are more sensitive to light and other stimuli and they can result in eye pain.

Another possibility for people who are chronically anxious is that they have tighter facial muscles because of it. This can affect eyes too because tightness can be constricting blood vessels entering the eyes. This can cause pain too, and in severe instances it may even cause blurred vision. But can anxiety cause eye problems along with stress? Yes, and especially so if one is fueling the other and in those instances these factors will be even more pronounced.

Tension Troubles

People who are very anxious over long stretches of time may also experience tunnel vision where they are not seeing peripherally out the side of their eyes well anymore. Another possibility with can anxiety cause eye problems is that unmitigated stress and anxiety can cause high blood pressure, and people with hypotension can have it be a cause of a very serious eye problem – hypertensive retinopathy. This eye condition is characterized by swelling of the eyes, lowered vision, and even having blood vessels in the eyes burst.

Hypertensive retinopathy may well be the worst of these potential outcomes and that is because it is a progressive condition, despite not being among the most common eye problems. This means it will worsen if no type of treatment is given for it, and permanent retina damage causing vision impairment becomes a real possibility if it is allowed to progress unimpeded. Excessive stress levels are known to raise the risk of hypertensive retinopathy in a big way.

Lastly in relation to can anxiety cause eye problems we also know that both can cause floaters – dots, squiggly lines, blotches, rings, or other odd shapes when in bright light or when the person has their eyes closed. Sufferers may also have eye muscle twitching, and this can be more than just a nuisance when it starts happening often.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for your pet. See your veterinarian for medical advice and treatment for your pet if you have any concerns.