Life Situations, Emotions, and Glaucoma

Abstract

The authors undertook to determine if a relationship could be shown to exist between emotional reactions and the level of intraocular pressure. The subjects of the study were 18 patients with primary glaucoma. Each patient was studied over an extended period and data were collected in regard to life history, eye symptoms, and intraocular pressure. Daily life situations and emotional changes were correlated with eye symptoms and changes in intraocular pressure. All patients had a history of difficulty in personality adjustment. The most frequent emotional symptoms were mood fluctuations, excessive anxiety, and hypochondriacal tendencies. All patients reported a marked emotional reaction to frustrating life situations at the time the symptoms of glaucoma first appeared. During the course of the study it was found that increase in ocular symptoms and in level of intraocular pressure frequently coincided with stressful situations and with unpleasant emotional reactions such as anger, anxiety or depression. Periods of emotional tranquility were regularly associated with remission of eye symptoms.