A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research on Depression and Dry Eye Syndrome

Objective: There is growing evidence that depression is associated with dry eye. Despite the lack of understanding of the specific causal relationship between depression and dry eye, depression has been shown to be a significant predictor of acute exacerbation of dry eye. In this study, we examine the evolution of the relationship between depression and dry eye over the past several decades and provide valuable insights into this topic. Methods: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from inception to December 31, 2023, for publications related to depression and dry eye. Trends in publications, authors, countries and institutions, and keywords were analyzed. Results: We extracted 259 publications from the WoSCC database. Since 2012, there has been a rapid increase in publications in this area. Among countries and institutions, the United States and the University of Manchester were the most prolific. In addition to 'depression' and 'dry eye', 'quality of life', 'anxiety', 'risk factors', and 'depression' have been identified. In addition to “depression” and “dry eye”, terms such as “quality of life”, “anxiety”, and “risk factors” frequently appear in the titles and abstracts of articles. Conclusion: The study of depression and dry eye is booming, and the subject matter is becoming more in-depth as time goes on. This hot topic deserves more attention in the future.