Chronic stress may speed up the development of eye diseases like macular degeneration or glaucoma. In the short term, stress and behaviors related to stress may contribute to dry eyes.

Stress can also lead to psychogenic blindness. This is blindness with a psychological cause and no known structural problem.

Read on to learn more about the connection between stress and vision problems.

The idea that stress may lead to vision loss isn’t new. It’s believed to date back at least 3,000 yearsTrusted Source.

Science has come a long way since then, but modern researchTrusted Source also supports the idea that stress may contribute to vision loss.

Can stress cause blurry vision?

Stress can potentially contribute to the development of blurry vision in several ways, such as:

• Drying out your eyes: In a 2022 reviewTrusted Source of studies, researchers found that dry eye disease was associated with depression and anxiety. Blurry vision is a potential symptomTrusted Source of dry eyes.
• Medication side effects: Some medications used to treat anxiety or stress, such as tricyclic antidepressants, can leadTrusted Source to symptoms like pupil dilation and blurry vision.
• Lead to retinal disease: ResearchTrusted Source suggests that perceived stress is a risk factor for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). CSCR results in fluid collection in the macula (the central part of the retina), which can cause blurry vision.
• Glaucoma: In a 2021 studyTrusted Source, researchers found evidence that anxiety and depression contributed to the progression of glaucoma. Blurry vision is often one of the first symptoms of glaucoma.

Can stress cause blindness?

Blindness is loss of vision ranging from mild to complete absence of sight.

Temporary vision loss can occur without any indicationTrusted Source of damage to the structures of your eye. When this happens, it’s called psychogenic blindness or conversion disorder. It often occurs after a traumatic event.

When you’re stressed, your body produces hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which cause changes to your body, including:

• increased heart rate
• increased breathing rate
• increased breakdown of fat and carbohydrates
• reduced intestinal activity

Over time, these hormones might damage your eye by reducingTrusted Source blood flow to your retina and optic nerve and increasing pressure in your eye.

These changes can contribute to the development of many eye diseases that cause symptoms such as:

• light sensitivity
• tunnel vision
• eyestrain
• double vision
• eye pain
• reduced visual acuity