You can't diagnose mental illness just by looking at someone's eyes, but certain eye movement patterns and subtle physical signs can be associated with conditions like schizophrenia, autism, depression, and PTSD, acting as potential clues or biomarkers for researchers, not definitive diagnostic tools for clinicians. Abnormalities in smooth pursuit (following objects), saccades (quick jumps), gaze avoidance, or even retinal structure can appear in some mental health conditions, but these aren't exclusive and require professional assessment.
We have suggested that those with a bipolar disorder may, during manic/hypomanic states, evidence sparkling eyes, have dilated pupils and, albeit rarely, evidence iris colour changes – especially blackening.
“It's the only place in the body where, without surgery, we can look in and see veins, arteries, and a nerve (the optic nerve).” The eyes' transparency explains why common eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration can be detected early with regular eye exams.
Over time, important clinical insights into managing this disorder have emerged, including implications for eye care. A lot of research is starting to emerge using the eye as a window on the brain. However, there is currently no known way to tell if a person has schizophrenia just by looking at their eyes.
Retinal Thickness: The retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, is essential for vision. Research suggests changes in retinal thickness might be linked to certain mental health conditions. For instance, some studies have found a thinner retina in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
“'Bipolar eyes' is a nonclinical term used to describe the look of someone in a manic episode, where the eyes convey excess energy or excitement,” he says. But, changes in eye appearance are just one potential part of a bigger picture when it comes to diagnosing and managing bipolar disorder.
Schizophrenia changes how a person thinks and behaves.
The first signs can be hard to identify as they often develop during the teenage years. Symptoms such as becoming socially withdrawn and unresponsive or changes in sleeping patterns can be mistaken for an adolescent "phase".
The "25 rule" (or "rule of quarters") in schizophrenia suggests that outcomes fall into four roughly equal groups: 25% recover fully, 25% improve significantly with some ongoing support, 25% improve somewhat but need considerable help, and 25% have a poor outcome with chronic illness or suicide risk, highlighting the varied nature of schizophrenia's long-term course, though some sources use a "rule of thirds" with similar proportions for different outcomes.
However, a person will often show changes in their behavior before psychosis develops. Behavioral warning signs for psychosis include: Suspiciousness, paranoid ideas, or uneasiness with others. Trouble thinking clearly and logically.
The eyes are the only part of the body where we can see bare arteries, veins and nerves without making an incision.” As a result, an eye exam can find a serious health condition before you notice symptoms. Or it can find a sign that a disease you know you have is getting worse and needs more care.
During an eye test, an optician can identify a brain tumour by either noticing a swelling of the optic disc or seeing pressure on the optic nerve.
The term “stress rings” isn't a medical diagnosis. It's a phrase people use to describe rings, circles, or discolouration they see around the iris—the coloured part of the eye. In most cases, these rings are simply due to natural pigment differences or changes that occur with age.
Five key signs of bipolar disorder involve extreme mood shifts, including manic symptoms like inflated energy, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, impulsivity (spending, risky behavior), and irritability, alongside depressive symptoms such as profound sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, significant sleep/appetite changes, and suicidal thoughts, all lasting for extended periods and impacting daily life.
The main features that discriminate female bipolar patients from controls were: the nose is turned up, wider at the base and shorter; the corners of the mouth are set forward with reduced mouth width; the chin is set higher and forward; the eyes are narrower; the face is wider at tragion and lengthened along the ...
Speech may be mildly disorganized or completely incoherent and incomprehensible. Disorganized (bizarre) behavior may take the form of childlike silliness, agitation, or inappropriate appearance, hygiene, or conduct.
Some people may have greater self-awareness of their symptoms and recognize that their experiences are atypical. However, others may not be aware that the delusions or hallucinations they experience during a psychotic episode are not real.
There's no single test for schizophrenia and the condition is usually diagnosed after assessment by a specialist in mental health. If you're concerned you may be developing symptoms of schizophrenia, see a GP as soon as possible. The earlier schizophrenia is treated, the better.
That's because some early symptoms of schizophrenia — those that occur before hallucinations, delusions and disorganization — are commonly seen in many teens, such as:
Five key warning signs of mental illness include significant mood changes (extreme highs/lows, persistent sadness), withdrawal from friends/activities, major changes in sleep or eating habits, difficulty coping with daily problems or stress, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide, alongside other indicators like substance abuse, confusion, or changes in hygiene. These signs often represent a noticeable shift in behavior, functioning, and emotional state that impacts daily life.
Many of schizophrenia's better-known symptoms are in the positive symptom category, including: Hallucinations. These occur when a person's senses — vision, hearing, touch or smell — experience things that do not exist. Hallucinations and delusions may be referred to as psychotic symptoms or psychosis.
A person with bipolar mania may experience pressured speech, where they feel as if they cannot get the words out fast enough to express their thoughts. This causes them to speak quickly, suddenly, or erratically. A person with bipolar disorder may experience pressured speech during manic periods.
In bipolar disorder, structural brain abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex have been confirmed in postmortem studies60,61 and with structural MRI. For example, the subgenual portion of the anterior cingulate cortex was reduced in volume in patients with bipolar disorder with a family history of affective disorder.
A bipolar meltdown could look different depending on the symptoms you're currently experiencing. For example, you might: Go on a “binge,” or “bender,” of continuous reckless activities, like substance use, unsafe sex, or spending money. Become verbally aggressive with someone, even someone you love.