Psychiatrists see visible eye changes in mood shifts

— Can a glance into someone’s eyes reveal a change in mood from mania to depression? A group of psychiatrists studying it believes it’s possible.

In an article published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry in 2023, the researchers say patients with bipolar disorder often have visible differences in their eyes depending on their mental state. 

Manic phases are described as producing a bright, restless gaze, while depressive periods bring eyes that seem dull or heavy. The disorder may be linked to certain eye changes, such as pupil size, eye brightness, and eye movements.

The psychiatrists, with the University of New South Wales and the Black Dog Institute in Sydney, say the eye changes could occur because of shifts in the body’s chemistry. 

They say the muscles that control pupil size and eye movement are regulated by the same autonomic nervous system that responds to stress and excitement. 

When brain chemicals such as dopamine surge during mania, the eyes might widen and brighten. When activity slows in depression, the opposite effect could occur.

Accounts of “mania eyes” are not limited to medical journals. Online forums where people with bipolar disorder share experiences are filled with references to eyes that “sparkle” or “glow” in mania episodes. 

Friends and family sometimes report changes in their loved ones’ gaze before other symptoms appear. The stories remain anecdotal, but some psychiatrists say they have noticed it as well.

The theory could make mood swings easier to detect. Unlike brain scans or blood tests, eyes can be observed quickly and without cost. So eye monitoring could become a diagnostic tool, along with metrics such as sleep, speech patterns, and daily activity levels.

The notion that eyes reveal inner states is not new; poets and philosophers have repeated the phrase “windows to the soul” for centuries. Whether they can also serve as windows to bipolar disorder remains uncertain, but an interesting question. 

There is not any hard data at this point. Perhaps more research, like systematic eye-tracking studies, laboratory tests linking neurotransmitters to pupil response, and clinical trials, could answer the question.

Sources:
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2023
PubMed: Bipolar eyes: Windows to the pole?
Medical News Today, “Bipolar eyes” (2023)
AMFM Treatment, “Mania Eyes” (2023)

Note from reader: As someone who has experienced bipolar mania and seen other people in manic episodes, I can confirm this report. It seemed to me that my own eyes were brighter and so were the eyes of others. I’ve seen a couple manics personally and others is group support groups. I noticed they held their gaze longer and seemed more engaging and perhaps even more attractive. The eyes of those suffering depression seem the opposite.