Jyothi Trataka yoga practice improves dry eye symptoms in adults with mild-to-moderate condition

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 14, 2026 Medically reviewed April 25, 2026 Study authors: Ligi Abraham, Raghavendra Bhat, Sony George DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Consider Jyothi Trataka yoga as complementary therapy for dry eye, but evidence remains preliminary.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated Jyothi Trataka yoga practice for dry eye management in 49 adults aged 20 to 40 years with mild-to-moderate dry eye. Participants were assigned to either the yoga group (25 initially, 24 final) practicing online for 25 minutes, 3 days per week for 12 weeks, or a control group (24 initially, 22 final) with no intervention. The primary outcome was OSDI score, with secondary outcomes including tear breakup time, Schirmer's score, and tear meniscus height.

The yoga group showed significant improvements in OSDI scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05, though exact p-value not reported). Specific effect sizes and absolute numbers for these improvements were not provided. Secondary outcome results were not reported in the available data.

Safety data were limited, with adverse events and tolerability not reported. There were 3 discontinuations (1 from yoga group, 2 from control group), but reasons were not specified. The study had several limitations, including a small final sample size of 46 participants, short 12-week follow-up, and lack of detailed safety information.

While the findings suggest Jyothi Trataka may positively affect dry eye symptoms, the evidence remains preliminary due to study limitations. The authors note longer-duration studies are warranted to explore additional benefits. In practice, this yoga technique might be considered as a complementary approach, but clinicians should recognize the need for more robust evidence before making strong recommendations.

Study Details

Study typeRct

EvidenceLevel 2

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

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 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).

Jyothi Trataka yoga practice improves dry eye symptoms in adults with mild-to-moderate condition

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Jyothi Trataka yoga practice improves dry eye symptoms in adults with mild-to-moderate condition

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