Eye Flashes and Anxiety: Exploring the Link
Explore the modern understanding of how anxiety might influence eye flashes and floaters, and what you can do about it.
Anxiety triggers a cascade of physical and emotional reactions including rapid heartbeat, quickened breathing, and intense feelings of panic.
Many individuals also report experiencing visual phenomena such as floaters or sudden flashes of light, sometimes described as seeing stars, during heightened anxiety episodes.
Let’s delve into how anxiety may be connected to these visual changes and what science currently reveals about this relationship.
Understanding Eye Symptoms
When anxiety peaks, some people notice floaters and flashes appearing in their vision, often simultaneously.
Floaters
Floaters are tiny, dark shapes that drift across your field of vision, especially noticeable against bright backgrounds.
They can appear as squiggly lines, strands, or spots and tend not to move exactly with your eye movements.
Bright surfaces like the sky or white paper often make floaters more visible.
Flashes
Flashes manifest as brief bursts or streaks of light flickering across your vision, sometimes resembling light strands.
Possible Causes
The idea that anxiety or intense emotions influence visual perception isn’t new but remains underexplored scientifically.
Anxiety and Depression
A 2017 study surveyed 61 individuals experiencing vitreous floaters without serious eye conditions, compared to 34 without floaters.
Participants reported on the frequency and severity of floaters and flashes, alongside assessments of anxiety and depression.
Those with eye flashes showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, sparking debate about whether anxiety causes these visual symptoms or vice versa.
Migraine and Stress
Migraine attacks often bring visual disturbances called aura, which can include jagged light flashes and wavy vision.
Since stress can trigger migraines, a connection between stress, migraines, and eye flashes is plausible.
Additional Links
Research is limited, but a 2015 study found that anxiety, depression, and stress correlated with a higher likelihood of dry eye disease.
Dry eye symptoms include burning, itching, and redness but generally don’t cause floaters or flashes.
Recommended Actions
Typically, floaters and flashes are benign and linked to natural aging changes in the eye’s gel.
If you notice new or worsening floaters or flashes, schedule an eye exam promptly.
For flashes that intensify with stress, consult your healthcare provider about managing stress to potentially reduce these visual symptoms.
Stress management techniques that may help include:
- Walking outdoors
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Breathing exercises
- Ensuring adequate rest
Are Eye Flashes and Floaters Harmful?
Eye floaters are generally normal and linked to aging; they rarely signal serious issues unless they suddenly increase or accompany peripheral vision loss, which could indicate retinal detachment—a medical emergency.
Eye flashes can be more alarming, sometimes signaling eye trauma, changes in the eye’s internal gel, or retinal stress that might lead to detachment.
In rare cases, flashes may hint at a stroke affecting brain blood flow and vision.
Do These Symptoms Resolve?
Once serious conditions are ruled out by an eye specialist, floaters and flashes often persist but may fluctuate in intensity and bother.
Understanding their benign nature can alleviate concern.
When to Seek Medical Help
Seek immediate care if you experience:
- A sudden surge in floaters
- A sudden increase in flashes
- Peripheral vision loss
- A sensation like a dark curtain over your vision
- Eye trauma followed by light flashes
These signs may indicate retinal detachment requiring urgent treatment.
Also consult a doctor if anxiety significantly disrupts your daily life, such as frequent panic attacks or avoidance of social and work activities, to explore treatment options.
Summary
If unsure about your eye symptoms, contact your eye care professional for evaluation.
Often, visual changes linked to anxiety or stress are harmless variations that you may notice more during stressful times.
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