Vision isn’t just one of the five senses; it’s a window to the world—a precious tool that lets us interact, learn, and connect with our surroundings. So, when your sight starts to fade, it doesn’t just change what you see; it transforms how you live and perceive yourself. Losing visual acuity, no matter your age often brings emotional challenges that you’ll need to address if you want to avoid falling into depression. In fact, 1 in 4 adults with vision loss have reported feelings of anxiety and depression.
Why Is Losing Vision Such an Emotional Blow?
The connection between vision and emotional well-being runs deep. Sight provides independence, helps you navigate your world, and allows you to interpret others’ nonverbal cues, which are crucial for interaction. When your vision falters, it can feel like your foundation is crumbling beneath you.
Loss of Autonomy
Vision loss has a functional impact on daily life. For example, losing peripheral vision can make driving difficult, leading to social isolation. On the other hand, losing central vision might affect your ability to read, potentially disrupting your work life.
Everyday activities like reading, cooking, or even getting around can feel like running an obstacle course, creating a sense of insecurity. The fear of making mistakes might discourage you from trying new things. Over time, this can shrink your world, as you limit yourself to familiar “safe zones.”
Increased Stress
Sometimes, vision loss means drastically adopting your current lifestyle. This can make most people uncomfortable and even frustrated at having to make routine changes they don’t want. Such is especially true if the vision loss is drastic enough that certain activities may need to be totally relearned. In cases of more severe vision loss, you might have to modify your living spaces to make them safer and more accessible so every small task doesn’t feel like scaling Everest.
Uncertainty about the future, especially if you’re unsure whether your vision will deteriorate further, can add to the stress. A study published in JAMA even found that losing vision in one eye can be more stressful than going blind in both due to the fear of losing the remaining sight. Similarly, another study found that even just knowing you’re at risk of vision loss, likely due to progressive diseases, can cause mental health issues. These lifestyle adjustments and constant worries take a toll on your emotional health, leading to heightened stress and anxiety levels.
Changes in Self-Image
Vision problems influence how you see yourself—not just in the mirror but in terms of self-image. For some, the experience is so difficult that it feels traumatic, forcing them to question who they are now that they can no longer do things with the same ease and confidence. This shift can shake your self-perception, making you feel like the blurry reflection in the mirror isn’t yours anymore.
The need to adapt to this new situation, especially if the loss of visual acuity forces you to give up certain things, can even lead to a grief process for the loss of a social role or your “previous self.” If you need to restructure some of your life plans, you may also lose confidence in your abilities and skills, feeling like a different person.
Mental disorders add an Extra Burden to Visual Impairments
In the world, around 1.3 billion people have some form of visual impairment, ranging from mild to severe. However, not everyone reacts the same way.
In some cases, a collision can occur between the image you have of yourself, your vital projection, and the present. This friction can distort your vision of the future, undermine your sense of identity, and erode your security, leading to an emotional tsunami marked by feelings such as resentment, anger, sadness, or frustration.
For this reason, it’s not surprising that visual problems, especially the more severe ones, can trigger some mental disorders.
Up to 15% of people with vision problems develop depressive symptoms at some point in their lives. And the likelihood of experiencing depression increases the earlier the visual deficiency appears, according to a study conducted at the University of Oslo, likely because we have fewer psychological resources to cope with the situation.
Anxiety is also a common issue among those with visual impairments. Research published in Scientific Reports determined that the stress of dealing with vision impairments can significantly color a person’s quality of life. In the long run, this has even been linked with poorer health outcomes.
How to Cope with the Emotional Effects of Vision Loss?
When you can no longer read the small print on products, struggle to see clearly where you step to avoid falling, or even find that the faces of your loved ones become blurry, it’s normal to experience feelings of loss, pain, or frustration. Visual impairments can be a challenge even for the most emotionally stable individuals.
However, your attitude towards it can make a difference. Of course, being more positive won’t restore your visual acuity, but it will set the emotional tone for the process and influence your psychological well-being.
If you associate vision loss with fragility, you’re likely to feel more vulnerable and adopt a more pessimistic outlook. Conversely, if you believe you can still do things, albeit differently, you will adopt a more proactive approach and strive to maintain independence. What can you do?
1. Rewrite your internal narrative. Instead of focusing on what you struggle with or what you can’t do, shift your focus to the abilities you retain or the skills you can develop. Changing the question “Why me?” to “What can I do?” will transform your perspective and help you adopt a more proactive attitude.
2. Inject creativity into your vision management plan. Although it’s easy to view the medical necessities thrust upon you as burdensome reminders of your vision loss, you have more to gain from using this as an opportunity for self-expression. For example, if your condition is something like glaucoma that makes you photosensitive, you can make use of stylish sunglasses instead of dreary ones. A look at retailer Eyebuydirect’s selection, for example, shows how there is a style for everyone, with classic black cat-eyes for a feminine look and oversized tinted wraparounds for a more eccentric vibe. By taking this approach, you’re reclaiming your vision needs and making them work for your lifestyle and not just your conditions.
3. Explore other sensory ways of connection. Sight is likely the primary sense we rely on to navigate the world. However, when it begins to fail, you can turn to touch, hearing, or smell to enrich your daily experiences. Nowadays, you can even do so with the help of widespread technologies. For instance, Apple’s Airpods can now be used as wireless earbuds that detect hearing loss. With the information you gain from this, you can then opt to adopt better hearing-friendly practices, like using the same buds as hearing aids or trying sound localization exercises. By developing these other senses, which are often in the background, you open the door to a completely new way of interacting with your environment, adding depth to your perception and offering unexpected moments of enjoyment.
4. Practice “Intentional Attention”. As your other senses sharpen, you can spend more time paying attention to your body as a whole. Observe how all your senses interact simultaneously. For example, while listening to music, notice the bodily sensations and emotions it evokes. When drinking a cup of coffee, pay attention to the temperature of the cup in your hands, its aroma, or its taste. This approach not only grounds you in the present but also amplifies the richness of your experiences while strengthening your connection to yourself and your surroundings.
5. Find new ways to do what you did before. Redefine your life with new goals or reframe existing ones. For instance, if you can no longer read as before, audiobooks can offer a different and immersive experience that is equally rewarding. The key is to approach these changes as new ways of doing things, with the curiosity of a child exploring the world.
6. Incorporate activities that expand your identity. Visual impairments are often seen as a loss that cuts away part of your identity, but they can also be a means to explore new facets of yourself. You can try activities you’ve never attempted that don’t rely on vision, such as writing, playing an instrument, learning guided meditation, or engaging in hands-on crafts. This will restore your sense of security and help you realize there is life beyond the diagnosis.
7. Use loss as a reflection on priorities. Take this moment to reflect on other areas of your life, like relationships, priorities, and long-term goals. Sometimes, crises can open doors you never imagined. You might discover you’ve neglected important relationships, need to readjust your goals, or decide to revisit a project you had put on hold. This situation can be a catalyst for positive change.
8. Don’t become your diagnosis. Remind yourself daily that vision loss is just one part of your life, not the entirety of your identity. Keep your passions, relationships, and sense of purpose alive.
9. Acknowledging emotions to build resilience. Lastly, remember that it’s normal to go through a stage of shock and denial. Feeling angry or sad is perfectly normal. Don’t deny these emotions—acknowledge them and understand that your situation has changed. After this negative phase often comes reaffirmation and adaptation. This allows you to develop new strategies for your daily life or seek help when needed.
At the end of the day, it’s about recognizing that, despite vision loss, you remain a valuable and unique individual with strengths and limitations, just like everyone else.
References:
Parravano, M. et. Al. (2021) Association Between Visual Impairment and Depression in Patients Attending Eye Clinics. A Meta-analysis. JAMA Ophthalmol; 139(7): 753-761.
Brunes, A. & Heir, T. (2020) Visual impairment and depression: Age-specific prevalence, associations with vision loss, and relation to life satisfaction. World J Psychiatry; 10(6):139–149.
Weronika, K. et. Al. (2018) Anxiety in persons with visual impairment. Psychiatria Polska; 54(2):1-10.
Williams, R. A. et. Al. (1998) The psychosocial impact of macular degeneration. Arch. Ophthalmol; 116(4): 514–520.
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