Yoga as a cost-effective adjunct therapy for dry eye: clinical outcomes from a 12-week randomized controlled trial.
Dry eye significantly impacts visual function, productivity, and quality of life. The personal and economic burden of modern dry eye management is substantial. Yoga, known for its physical and mental health benefits, includes practices such as Jyothi Trataka, a visual concentration exercise that may alleviate dry eye symptoms. Given its minimal resource requirements and ease of implementation, Jyothi Trataka may serve as a cost-effective, accessible adjunct to the management of dry eye.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week Jyothi Trataka practice in alleviating the signs and symptoms of dry eye.
A randomized controlled trial with an open-label, parallel-group design was conducted in adults with mild-to-moderate dry eye. A total of 49 participants of both genders, aged 20 to 40 years, with mild-to-moderate dry eye, were randomly assigned to either a yoga group (n = 25) or a control group (n = 24). Three participants discontinued the intervention, including one from the yoga group and two from the control group, resulting in a final sample of 24 participants in the yoga group and 22 in the control group. All participants provided a medical history and underwent ocular surface and symptom evaluation using standardized protocols at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention. The yoga group practiced Jyothi Trataka online for 25 min, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. The control group received no intervention. Dry eye symptoms were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, and the three dry eye signs analyzed were tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer's score, and tear meniscus height (TMH).
Between-group comparisons using the Mann-Whitney U-test revealed significant improvements in the OSDI score (p < 0.01) and TBUT (p < 0.01) in the yoga group. No significant changes were observed in Schirmer's score or TMH.
Yoga, specifically Jyothi Trataka, positively affects dry eye symptoms and may be considered a complementary therapy for their management. Longer-duration studies are warranted to explore additional benefits.
https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/login.php. Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI No. REF/2021/07/045631).
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week Jyothi Trataka practice in alleviating the signs and symptoms of dry eye.
A randomized controlled trial with an open-label, parallel-group design was conducted in adults with mild-to-moderate dry eye. A total of 49 participants of both genders, aged 20 to 40 years, with mild-to-moderate dry eye, were randomly assigned to either a yoga group (n = 25) or a control group (n = 24). Three participants discontinued the intervention, including one from the yoga group and two from the control group, resulting in a final sample of 24 participants in the yoga group and 22 in the control group. All participants provided a medical history and underwent ocular surface and symptom evaluation using standardized protocols at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention. The yoga group practiced Jyothi Trataka online for 25 min, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks. The control group received no intervention. Dry eye symptoms were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, and the three dry eye signs analyzed were tear breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer's score, and tear meniscus height (TMH).
Between-group comparisons using the Mann-Whitney U-test revealed significant improvements in the OSDI score (p < 0.01) and TBUT (p < 0.01) in the yoga group. No significant changes were observed in Schirmer's score or TMH.
Yoga, specifically Jyothi Trataka, positively affects dry eye symptoms and may be considered a complementary therapy for their management. Longer-duration studies are warranted to explore additional benefits.
https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/login.php. Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI No. REF/2021/07/045631).