Fear of eyes (ommetaphobia)

En español: lee sobre este miedo en Fobias.org.

Ommetaphobia is a fear of eyes, whether your own or other people’s. It can make eye drops, contact lenses, eye tests or even close eye contact feel very hard. Some people also feel queasy at pictures or descriptions of eye injuries.

About this phobia

The name is linked to the Greek omma, meaning eye. It is rare and appears mainly on lists of phobias. It overlaps with fears of medical procedures and with discomfort about eye contact in social settings.

How it shows up

Many people feel squeamish about eye drops or putting in contact lenses. With ommetaphobia, the reaction can be strong enough to block eye care, make eye contact hard or bring on faintness at a picture of an eye. Some fear their own eyes being touched, while others are bothered by other people’s eyes or by eyes in films and images. It can also overlap with the feeling of being watched or judged in social settings.

Common triggers

• Eye drops
• Contact lenses
• Eye tests and examinations
• Close-up photos of eyes
• Eye injuries in films
• Direct eye contact

Where it shows up

• Opticians and eye clinics
• Bathrooms when using drops or lenses
• Meetings and interviews
• Cinemas and TV
• Hospitals

Symptoms

In your body

• Feeling faint
• Watery eyes
• Nausea
• Racing heart
• Flinching

In your mind

• Worry about damage to the eyes
• Feeling judged when looked at
• Dread before eye care

What you might do

• Avoiding opticians
• Refusing drops or lenses
• Looking away during talks
• Covering eyes during films

What may cause it

There is little research on fear of eyes on its own. It often seems linked to fears of medical procedures or injury, and to a sense that the eyes are delicate and easily harmed. A bad experience during an eye test, an eye injury, or seeing one in a film can be a starting point, and some people feel faint at the sight of eye procedures in the same way others do with blood. Social discomfort with eye contact is a separate issue that can overlap with it.

How it can affect your life

It can put eye health at risk if eye tests and treatment are put off for years. Difficulty with eye contact can also affect job interviews, work meetings and close relationships. Some people stop wearing contact lenses they need because putting them in feels too hard.

Related fears

• Fear of medical procedures
• Fear of injury (traumatophobia)
• Social anxiety
• Fear of being looked at (scopophobia)

Things that can help day to day

• Tell your optician about the fear so they can explain each step before they do it
• Practise putting a clean finger near your closed eyelid while breathing calmly
• Look at a cartoon or drawn eye before moving on to photos
• Practise eye contact for a few seconds at a time with someone you trust

When to get help

Regular eye tests matter for health, so speak to a GP or optician if fear is keeping you away. See a GP or optician promptly about any eye pain, redness or changes in sight.

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

About me

Common questions

What if the fear stops me getting my eyes checked?

That is worth tackling, because regular eye checks matter. Let the optician know how you feel, as they can explain each step first. If you have any eye symptoms, see an optician or GP.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Further reading: Healthline: Ommetaphobia (fear of eyes) · All About Vision: Ommetaphobia · NHS: Phobias

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