Effect of Trataka Kriya on eye health: A systematic review and meta analysis

• This systematic review and meta-analysis examined Trataka Kriya for eye health. • Trataka Kriya may help reduce eye fatigue and discomfort from screen use. • Evidence suggests potential benefits, but studies were small and short term. • Stronger, well-designed trials are needed to confirm clinical usefulness. Introduction : Visual health problems such as digital eye strain, refractive errors, presbyopia, and glaucoma are increasingly prevalent worldwide, driven by rising screen exposure and aging populations. Traditional yogic practices like Trataka Kriya (a gazing-based ocular exercise) have been suggested to improve ocular function and reduce visual fatigue. However, systematic evidence evaluating its efficacy remains limited. This review aimed to synthesize and quantify the effects of Trataka Kriya on various eye health outcomes. Methods : This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and was registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD420251129141). Systematic literature searches were conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Ovid, and CINAHL databases from inception to September 2025. Eligible studies included randomized and non-randomized trials evaluating Trataka Kriya in individuals of any age, with or without eye conditions. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) and Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I tools). A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan 5.3), with pooled effects expressed as mean differences. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Results : A total of 692 records were identified, with 680 records retrieved from electronic databases and 12 from other sources, of which 21 studies were included in qualitative synthesis and 3 in meta-analysis. The pooled within-group meta-analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in Visual Fatigue Scale scores (MD = 2.23, 95% CI 0.18–4.29; P = 0.03). However, the between-group difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.15). Conclusion : Trataka Kriya may have potential benefits for reducing visual strain and fatigue; however, the current evidence remains limited and inconclusive due to small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and limited standardized outcome reporting. Future multicentric randomized controlled trials with uniform protocols and validated assessment tools are needed to confirm its efficacy and clinical applicability in preventive ophthalmology.