Antidepressants and Blurry Vision
The coronavirus pandemic has skyrocketed the prevalence rate of depression, anxiety, and stress-related symptoms. Anxiety and depressive disorders are some of the most common psychiatric disorders, and the first line treatment is often with drugs classified as SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. If you’ve noticed a change in your vision, it could be due to the antidepressants you take! In addition to blurry vision, these medications can cause a burning, gritty sensation in the eyes.
Living with a chronic eye condition such as glaucoma or macular degeneration has even been found to be associated with depression.
Antidepressants relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety, but they can come with varying side effects. One of these side effects is blurred vision or a lack of sharpness. Someone taking these medications may also experience itching, burning, scratchy sensations, redness of the eye, or light sensitivity. Tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the two classes of antidepressants that are most likely to affect vision. Tricyclic antidepressants block the receptors in the brain for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. When the receptor is blocked, tear production stops and the eye becomes very dry. Mydriasis (pupil dilation) is also a common side effect of tricyclic antidepressants resulting in blurry vision and light sensitivity. Tricyclic antidepressants have been found to contribute to acute angle closure due to pupillary block and pupillary dilation. SSRIs affect the eye’s pupillary muscles, making it difficult to focus on nearby objects. One example is difficulty in reading. You can tell this is in younger patients who wear reading glasses – typically individuals do not require reading glasses until they are in their 40s.
Other vision problems related to taking antidepressants:
- Diplopia (double vision)
- Blurred vision (reduced visual acuity)
- Photopsia (eye floaters or flashes)
- Night blindness (inability to see in dark conditions)
- Photophobia (light sensitivity)
- Vitreous floaters (spots in vision)
- Visual field detect (loss of part of the normal field of vision)
- Visual snow syndrome (flickering dots in vision)
- Palinopsia (persistence of visual phenomena)
- Acute angle closure glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye and blockage of aqueous fluid from exiting the eye)
It is important to let your eye doctor know all of the medications you take. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, contact your eye doctor! Many eye doctors can help you find relief from these symptoms while you continue to take the medication you need.
