Changes in your pupils could indicate a trauma response: Here's what to know

Our eyes do more than just help us see the world—they can also reveal critical insights into our psychological state. Changes in pupil size, shape, and reactivity can sometimes signal underlying mental health conditions, stress, or even neurological disorders.


What pupil changes reveal

While we are all aware that pupils enlarge when we glimpse a person or something we adore, inexplicable changes in pupils might be your body's method of alerting you to an underlying condition. According to Mehezabin Dordi, Clinical Psychologist at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai in a recent interview with the Indian Express, variations in pupil size can be due to:

• Anxiety and stress: The physiological fight-or-flight response of the body can result in the dilation of pupils when experiencing anxiety or stress.
• Drug use: Various drugs produce different effects on pupil diameter—stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines tend to dilate, whereas opioids such as heroin tend to constrict.
• Neurological disorders: Disorders like brain trauma and multiple sclerosis can sometimes present with abnormal pupillary reactions.
• Autism spectrum disorders: Abnormal eye movement in children may be an early sign of autism.
• Other neurological syndromes: Irregular pupil diameter can also be associated with diseases like Horner's syndrome and Adie's pupil.

The connection between mental health and visionAlthough mental health disorders are not directly linked to vision, extreme neurological problems related to mental health sometimes produce vision disturbances. Nevertheless, Dordi states that variations in pupil diameter per se are not a diagnostic procedure for mental illnesses.

Rather, such eye features must be viewed as potential warning signs and not absolute diagnoses. In case you observe abnormal pupil variations, it is always best to seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

What your eyes might be telling you about your mental healthOur eyes can provide interesting hints regarding our neurological and mental health, but they must not be the only reason for diagnosis. If you or someone you know have unexplained pupil changes accompanied by symptoms of stress, anxiety, or other health issues, consulting a doctor is necessary.