Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye disease
Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic inflammatory condition with increasing prevalence. Current treatment strategies, including artificial tears and anti-inflammatory agents, often fail to fully relieve ocular discomfort or meet patients’ broader clinical needs. Psychosomatic medicine is grounded in t...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1600258/full |
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| author | Cong Zhao Cong Zhao Cong Zhao Xiang Li |
| author_facet | Cong Zhao Cong Zhao Cong Zhao Xiang Li |
| author_sort | Cong Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic inflammatory condition with increasing prevalence. Current treatment strategies, including artificial tears and anti-inflammatory agents, often fail to fully relieve ocular discomfort or meet patients’ broader clinical needs. Psychosomatic medicine is grounded in the biopsychosocial model of disease. Epidemiological studies suggest that DED is influenced by a range of physiological, psychological, and social factors. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) may play a key role in the interplay between DED and mental health. Therefore, DED may be a psychosomatic disease, and its management should follow a multifaceted approach that considers both molecular-level mechanisms and broader psychosocial factors. The efficacy of mind-body therapies (MBT) in psychosomatic disorders has been widely recognized in recent years, yet there is still a wide scope for exploration in DED. This review explores the psychosomatic aspects of DED, highlights its subjective symptom burden, and discusses the potential benefits and mechanisms of MBT as an adjunctive therapy, offering new perspectives for its comprehensive management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d0f72970264a4ce3b70e60e92cf6b6be |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-d0f72970264a4ce3b70e60e92cf6b6be2025-08-20T05:33:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16002581600258Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye diseaseCong Zhao0Cong Zhao1Cong Zhao2Xiang Li3Eye School of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Sichuan Province Ophthalmopathy Prevention & Cure and Visual Function Protection with TCM Laboratory, Chengdu, ChinaRetinal Image Technology and Chronic Vascular Disease Prevention & Control and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, ChinaEye School of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDry eye disease (DED) is a chronic inflammatory condition with increasing prevalence. Current treatment strategies, including artificial tears and anti-inflammatory agents, often fail to fully relieve ocular discomfort or meet patients’ broader clinical needs. Psychosomatic medicine is grounded in the biopsychosocial model of disease. Epidemiological studies suggest that DED is influenced by a range of physiological, psychological, and social factors. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) may play a key role in the interplay between DED and mental health. Therefore, DED may be a psychosomatic disease, and its management should follow a multifaceted approach that considers both molecular-level mechanisms and broader psychosocial factors. The efficacy of mind-body therapies (MBT) in psychosomatic disorders has been widely recognized in recent years, yet there is still a wide scope for exploration in DED. This review explores the psychosomatic aspects of DED, highlights its subjective symptom burden, and discusses the potential benefits and mechanisms of MBT as an adjunctive therapy, offering new perspectives for its comprehensive management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1600258/fullocular surfacepsychological stressinflammationbiopsychosocial modelpsychoneuroimmunology |
| spellingShingle | Cong Zhao Cong Zhao Cong Zhao Xiang Li Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye disease Frontiers in Medicine ocular surface psychological stress inflammation biopsychosocial model psychoneuroimmunology |
| title | Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye disease |
| title_full | Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye disease |
| title_fullStr | Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye disease |
| title_short | Dry eye disease and psychosomatics—benefits of mind-body therapy for dry eye disease |
| title_sort | dry eye disease and psychosomatics benefits of mind body therapy for dry eye disease |
| topic | ocular surface psychological stress inflammation biopsychosocial model psychoneuroimmunology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1600258/full |
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