What does Anxiety Feel Like in Eyes?
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that can help us prepare for and cope with stressful situations.
However, anxiety can become overwhelming for some individuals and interfere with their daily life.
It can sometimes affect your eye vision or may aggravate existing eye problems.
Anxiety is the most common mental illness affecting 40 million people in the US every year.
Keep reading to know what does anxiety feel like in eyes.
Light sensitivity
Anxiety sometimes causes light sensitivity due to a temporary enlargement or dilation of the pupil.
When you have anxiety, you may constantly feel fearful, worried, and panicked. This triggers the dilation of pupils.
When your pupils dilate, more light enters the eyes. This can overwhelm your eyes with light making them sensitive to it.
Light sensitivity is more likely to appear during acute anxiety episodes, like panic attacks.
Thus, if you do not have any underlying conditions that may cause photophobia, speak with your doctor or a psychiatrist.
Blurry vision
Blurry vision is when you lose sharpness in your eyesight and can not see objects clearly.
If your surrounding seems blurry and unclear, this can be a symptom of anxiety.
When you are anxious, your body kicks in a fight or flight response. It releases Adrenaline and Cortisol. Your blood pressure increases, and your heart starts beating faster.
This also causes more than enough oxygen to flood the system.
In such situations, focusing on things around you can be challenging if you move more quickly than usual. This can result in the illusion of blurred vision.
But in some individuals, sudden physical changes can cause visual changes.
Tunnel vision
Tunnel vision is when your peripheral vision fades or disappears entirely.
If you are experiencing anxiety, tunnel vision may make you feel more anxious.
As said earlier, anxiousness activates your fight-or-flight response.
Your eyes respond to it by eliminating the unnecessary things around you that may distract you.
Although tunnel vision is helpful in dangerous situations, it can be annoying when not in danger.
You can treat the problem by staying relaxed and calm.
Visual snow
Visual snow is a form of a visual hallucination that causes static-like dots to appear in your vision.
First recognized in 1995, it is referred to as visual snow anxiety when it occurs during anxiety.
It is, however, unclear whether visual snow is a cause of anxiety.
But, for some people, the unexpected onset of visual snow can cause anxiety attacks.
If you are experiencing visual snow accompanied by anxiety. Then the best thing to do is to remember that it is a harmless condition.
However, if it is persistent, speak with your doctor to make sure that there are no underlying problems.
Thus, if you experience any long-term eye problems, visit your eye doctor.
Takeaway
In conclusion, anxiety can physically affect the body, manifesting in various ways, including in your eyes.
When anxiety sets in, people may experience changes in vision, sensitivity to light, or other physical symptoms that can impact vision.
These symptoms can be distressing and make it challenging to function in daily life.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s essential to speak to your healthcare provider.
Treatments for anxiety are available, and with the right support, you can manage your anxiety and improve your quality of life.
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