Your eyes undergo changes such as increased intraocular pressure (IOP) when you're stressed or anxious, whether for a short time or on a regular basis.
found that IOP was on average 2.3 mmHg higher in a group of self-reported nervous volunteers compared to the group of low-anxiety subjects [30]. The former group was also found to have a higher heart-rate than the latter, but no significant difference in blood pressure was found.
Elevated eye pressure happens as the result of a buildup of fluid that flows throughout the inside of the eye. This fluid also is known as the aqueous humor. It usually drains through a tissue located at the angle where the iris and cornea meet. This tissue also is called the trabecular meshwork.
Elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol can have an impact on the sympathetic and vascular nervous systems, ultimately affecting the function of the eyes and brain. Glaucoma was identified as one of two eye conditions that could be a side effect of anxiety and high, long-term stress.
Stress can interfere with your sleep, skin and digestion. But did you also know it can affect your eyes? Your eyes undergo changes such as increased intraocular pressure (IOP) when you're stressed or anxious, whether for a short time or on a regular basis.
Although glaucoma may be the most common condition related to high eye pressure, it's not the only one. For example, pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a separate age-related eye condition that also includes high eye pressure as a sign. Medication could also be the cause of high eye pressure.
Without having your eye pressure tested by an eye care specialist, there's usually no way for you to feel or know that you have high eye pressure. It doesn't cause symptoms until it's damaged your optic nerve enough to affect your vision.
You can't cure ocular hypertension, but your provider can treat and monitor the condition. People who have ocular hypertension may be at a higher risk for developing glaucoma, but not everyone who has ocular hypertension will automatically develop glaucoma.
Drinking a quart of water in less than five minutes has been shown to increase intraocular pressure; instead, advise your patients to drink small amounts of water often to stay hydrated.
That sounds simple enough, except for the fact that eye pressure varies – sometimes quite dramatically. “Pressure is highest typically in the morning, when you're just waking up, and lowest in the afternoon,” says Johnson.
The impact of the body's 'fight or flight' reaction also affects the eyes and visual system and can lead to eye strain and headaches. Chronic stress can lead to a build up of pressure inside your eyes and put you at risk of optic nerve damage and glaucoma.
Some eye doctors treat all elevated intraocular pressures of higher than 21 mmHg with topical medicines. Some do not medically treat unless there is evidence of optic nerve damage. Most eye doctors treat if pressures are consistently higher than 28-30 mmHg because of the high risk of optic nerve damage.
Changes of mean IOP according to age. For the cross-sectional study, we used seven age groups classified by decades. Average IOP increased from 12.7 mm Hg in subjects in their 20s to 14.0 mm Hg in those in their 40s. Then IOP decreased from 13.9 mm Hg in those in their 60s to 13.1 mm Hg in those in their 70s.
But not everyone with high eye pressure will develop glaucoma — and some people with normal eye pressure get glaucoma. Whether you develop glaucoma depends on the amount of pressure your optic nerve can handle — and this amount is different for each person. For most people, eye pressure above 21 is higher than normal.
Eye pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal eye pressure ranges from 12-21 mm Hg, and eye pressure of greater than 21 mm Hg is considered higher than normal. When the IOP is higher than normal but the person does not show signs of glaucoma, this is referred to as ocular hypertension.
Health experts recommend people avoid added sugars and refined carbohydrates to help prevent glaucoma or vision loss. In addition, coffee may increase intraocular pressure, so it is best to avoid or limit drinking it.
Eye Pressure
Your eyes are filled with fluid, so it's no surprise that dehydration affects these fluids. Being dehydrated can increase the fluid pressure in your eyes, which is a potential blindness-inducing problem called glaucoma.
The research supports this guidance: In one study, aerobic exercise (such as walking, swimming, biking, or working out on stationary machines) at a brisk level for 30 to 45 minutes three to four times a week lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) and improved blood flow to the brain and the eye.
iCare HOME Tonometer is the only FDA approved eye pressure device available to patients for measuring eye pressure (intraocular pressure) at home that does not require using prescription eye drops to take your own pressure.
Anxiety, especially severe or chronic anxiety, can affect the eyes. Some people experience eye pain, blurry vision, double vision, and tunnel vision. Changes to the body during the “fight or flight” system are likely to blame. Distractions, exercise, and control over breathing can give your eyes some relief.
Can anxiety affect vision? Anxiety and poor vision are interrelated conditions that affect each other. For example, anxiety can trigger high adrenaline levels impacting your ability to see. However, if anxiety treatment doesn't resolve vision issues, you may have Binocular Vision Dysfunction.
Symptoms of Anxiety Headaches
Though these headaches may not be severe enough to affect your daily life, they could still negatively impact your quality of life. Symptoms include: Mild to moderate aching or dull pain. Pressure behind your eyes.