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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Vision Training Methods for Sports Concussion Mitigation and Management

Vision Training Methods for Sports Concussion Mitigation and Management

Published on: May 5, 2015

Post-traumatic stress disorder and vision.

Joseph N Trachtman¹

¹Elite Performance and Learning Center, PS, Seattle, Washington, USA. tracht@accommotrac.com

Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.)

|May 4, 2010

Summary

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause blurry vision due to its effects on the brain's visual pathways. Optometrists can help veterans with PTSD manage these vision problems.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Optometry
Psychology

Background:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many veterans, presenting with psychological and physical symptoms.
Optometrists frequently encounter patients with PTSD, often complicated by co-occurring traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Visual disturbances, such as blurry vision, are common in PTSD patients due to the limbic system's influence on visual pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

To explain the neuroanatomical basis of blurry vision in PTSD patients.
To detail the sensory vision pathways involved in PTSD.
To elucidate the role of neuropolypeptides in PTSD-related visual symptoms.

Main Methods:

Tracing sensory vision pathways from the retina to the visual cortex and limbic system.

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Vision Training Methods for Sports Concussion Mitigation and Management

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Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

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Describing neural pathways connecting the superior colliculus and limbic system to the eye.

Analyzing afferent and efferent nerve fibers and neuropolypeptides.

Main Results:

Identified interconnectedness between the sensory vision system and the limbic system.
Demonstrated feedforward and feedback mechanisms involving nerve pathways and neuropolypeptides.
Elaborated on the role of peptides in causing blurry vision in PTSD.

Conclusions:

Blurry vision in PTSD is linked to neural pathway dysregulation and neuropolypeptide activity.
Optometrists can play a role in managing vision disorders experienced by PTSD patients.
Understanding these mechanisms can improve patient care for veterans with PTSD and TBI.