Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 38:10

"My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me." — Psalms 38:10 (ASV)

My heart panteth - The word rendered “panteth,” in its original form, means properly to go about; to travel around; and then, to travel around as a merchant or peddler, or for the purpose of trade (Genesis 23:16; Genesis 37:28; Genesis 42:34). Applied to the heart, as it is here, it means to move about rapidly; to palpitate; to beat quickly. It is an expression of pain and distress, indicated by a rapid beating of the heart.

My strength faileth me - It is rapidly failing. He regarded himself as rapidly approaching death.

As for the light of mine eyes - My vision; my sight.

It also is gone from me - Margin, as in Hebrew: “is not with me.” This is usually an indication of approaching death; and it would seem from all these symptoms that he appeared to be drawing near to the end of life. Compare Psalms 13:3; Psalms 6:7; Psalms 31:9.