01/08/2025
Stress can affect vision in several ways—both directly and indirectly. Here’s a breakdown of how:
Visual Effects of Stress:
Blurry Vision:
Chronic or acute stress can cause your pupils to dilate or constrict irregularly, disrupting how light enters the eye and leading to blurred vision.
Eye Strain & Fatigue:
Stress often leads to poor posture, reduced blinking (especially with screen use), and muscle tension—putting strain on the visual system and causing tired, sore eyes.
Headaches & Eye Pain:
Tension headaches and migraines, both common with stress, can lead to eye pain, pressure behind the eyes, and sensitivity to light.
Difficulty Focusing:
Stress can interfere with the coordination between your eyes and brain, making it harder to maintain clear, stable focus—especially during reading or screen time.
Tunnel Vision or Light Sensitivity:
In high-stress moments, the body goes into “fight or flight” mode, narrowing peripheral vision (tunnel vision) or making eyes more sensitive to light.
Eye Twitching (Myokymia):
Stress can cause involuntary eyelid twitching—a harmless but annoying symptom linked to fatigue and anxiety.
Functional Vision Perspective:
From a functional vision standpoint, stress can disrupt how the eyes work together, track, and process visual information. This is especially important for tasks like reading, driving, or working on screens—making visual inefficiencies worse under pressure.
