The Effects of Breathing Exercises and Meditation on Quality of Life Among Eye Disease Patients: A Systematic Review.

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.