The Effects of Breathing Exercises and Meditation on Quality of Life Among Eye Disease Patients: A Systematic Review
In brief
Meditation and breathing exercises boost quality of life in eye disease patients
A systematic review of seven trials (six randomized) found that meditation or breathing exercises modestly improved overall quality of life, as well as anxiety, depression, and sleep quality, in people with eye conditions. However, the studies were small, had methodological concerns, and short follow-up, so larger, higher-quality trials are needed to confirm the benefit.
- Journal
- Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) (Q1)
- Published
- 5 August 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review / meta-analysis of RCTs
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1a)
- Authors
- Michael Huang, Jason Sheng, Brian Yu, Cindy Hutnik, Amardeep Thind, Monali S Malvankar-Mehta
- PMID
- 42572763
- DOI
- 10.2147/OPTH.S612746
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Ophthalmology (top studies of the week, 16 August 2026): High-quality evidence in a top journal
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Those diagnosed with eye disease are at a higher risk for experiencing a decreased quality of life (QOL). Meditation and breathing exercises have been linked with improvements in this area, but research in populations of eye disease patients is relatively scarce. We aim to bridge this knowledge gap by synthesizing the available evidence on the effects of meditation and breathing exercises on QOL in those with eye diseases. METHODS: A scoping search was performed in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases up to September 16th, 2025, to find relevant studies for review. Inclusion criteria were experimental studies investigating meditation or breathing exercises on any QOL outcome in populations with any eye disease. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk-of-bias tool and the Modified Downs and Black Checklist. RESULTS: Of the seven studies, six RCTs and one single-arm trial were included. Five studies examined QOL as an outcome, while four measured anxiety symptoms, two measured depression symptoms, and two measured sleep quality. Overall, beneficial effects of meditation and breathing exercises on these outcomes were found, although there were concerns with study quality and follow-up length. CONCLUSION: While preliminary findings suggest that meditation and breathing exercises may improve QOL for individuals with eye diseases, additional studies are required to establish the definitive impact of these interventions on the well-being of patients with eye conditions. Studies with longer follow-up times and higher methodological quality would be useful in continuing to explore the effects of these interventions on QOL outcomes.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.