Relationship between stress and binocular vision
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress and binocular vision performance. 82 participants were recruited aged 22.38 ±2.91 years with 57.3% male. Normal stress levels were documented in 52.4%, normal anxiety levels in 51.2% and normal depression levels in 61%. The remainder displayed varying degrees of emotional distress. Accommodative amplitude showed significant differences amongst stress subgroups. Stress, anxiety and depression were significantly correlated. Monocular accommodative facility was significantly greater in females and increased with higher stress scores, larger near exophoria and greater accommodative response; but lower with better stereoacuity. Accommodative amplitude declined with increasing age, being more myopic, having better stereoacuity, closer near point of convergence and higher depression scores. The authors conclude a relationship exists between stress levels and the accommodative system of the eye, particular accommodative amplitude and monocular accommodative facility. This was an exploratory study and larger longitudinal studies are required to investigate this relationship further.

The association between emotional states and binocular vision function in University students: a cross-sectional study. 
Riazifar A, Hashemi H, Jamali A, et al.
STRABISMUS
2026;34(2):170–83.