You already manage a lot when living with or caring for someone with glaucoma—monitoring medications, attending appointments, and tracking eye pressure. But one factor you may not think about is stress. Research now shows that both acute and chronic stress can raise intraocular pressure (IOP), potentially accelerating optic nerve damage. Understanding this link and learning ways to manage stress can help you better preserve your vision.

How Stress Raises Eye Pressure

When you’re stressed, either briefly or over time, your body responds by releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These activate your sympathetic nervous system and can cause your IOP to rise, even if temporarily. In glaucoma patients, a randomized controlled study using a standardized stress test (the Trier Social Stress Test) confirmed that acute psychological stress significantly elevated IOP among those with primary open‑angle glaucoma (POAG).

You might wonder if a short‑lived spike really matters. In fact, repeated or sustained stress can compromise long‑term IOP control. One study noted that glaucoma patients exposed to repeated stress stimuli may be at higher risk of disease progression, suggesting even transient increases in IOP could add up over time.

Chronic Stress, Anxiety, and Glaucoma Risk

Living with glaucoma, or caregiving, can raise your baseline anxiety. Studies point out that chronic stress and anxiety aren’t just uncomfortable—they’re associated with faster glaucoma progression. Research suggests that ongoing emotional strain may weaken the optic nerve’s resilience, making it more vulnerable to damage.

Plus, stress often affects your behavior: you may experience poor sleep, skip medications, or adopt unhealthy habits. These indirect effects can further disrupt IOP control and strain optic nerve health. In other words, beyond physical effects, stress can undercut the self-care routines that are vital for glaucoma management.

Stress Reduction Can Help Lower IOP

There’s encouraging news: intervention via mindfulness meditation and relaxation techniques has been shown to lower IOP in glaucoma patients. A 2024–2025 review found evidence that patients practicing stress-reduction techniques experienced meaningful IOP reductions as adjuncts to standard glaucoma treatment. Another small study cited by the American Academy of Ophthalmology noted mindfulness meditation may positively reduce IOP.

Even though some trials were small, the consistency across studies supports including relaxation in your routine. Simple practices like deep breathing, short meditation sessions, or guided mindfulness can be a low-cost, low-risk strategy to help stabilize IOP and support overall well-being for both you and your loved ones.

You’re not powerless when it comes to managing stress and its impact on glaucoma. By recognizing that stress can elevate IOP, especially if repeated, you gain a new tool in safeguarding vision. Whether you’re the patient or the caregiver, incorporating stress‑reduction techniques like mindfulness or relaxation can be a valuable part of your care plan. Staying calm, literally, may help keep your eye pressure and your glaucoma progression in check.

Sources: 

• PubMed (2024) Acute psychological stress increases intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39019157/
• Review of Optometry (February 2024). Stress Found to Increase IOP About 4mm Hg in Glaucoma Patients. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/stress-found-to-increase-iop-about-4mm-hg-in-glaucoma-patients
• Glaucoma Research Foundation (2024). The Role of Stress and Anxiety in Glaucoma: Understanding and Management https://glaucoma.org/articles/the-role-of-stress-and-anxiety-in-glaucoma-understanding-and-management
• The Open Ophthalmology Journal (2025). The Role of Mindfulness and Meditation in Reducing Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma. https://openophthalmologyjournal.com/VOLUME/18/ELOCATOR/e18743641340238/
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (2023). Glaucoma and Mental Health: Can Mindfulness Make a Difference? https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/glaucoma-mental-health
• Wilmington Family Eye Care (2023). Can Stress Cause High Eye Pressure? https://wilmingtonfamilyeyecare.com/can-stress-cause-high-eye-pressure

To ensure that we always provide you with high-quality, reliable information, The Glaucoma Community closely vets all sources. We do not, however, endorse or recommend any specific providers, treatments, or products, and the use of a given source does not imply an endorsement of any provider, treatment, medication, procedure, or device discussed within.