Effects of 8-week yoga therapy on vision and quality of life in COVID-19 vaccine-associated optic neuritis: A case series study

Abstract

While COVID-19 vaccines have reduced the prevalence of new viral strains, they are associated with side effects, including optic neuritis (ON). Developing effective management strategies, particularly non-pharmacological interventions, may improve outcomes for affected patients. This case study evaluated the effects of 8 weeks of yoga therapy in two male patients, aged 58 and 43, who developed ON two weeks post-vaccination. Assessments included visual field and color perception tests, the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Results from the yoga therapy patient were compared to a control case. The yoga therapy patient showed marked improvements: visual field enhancements of 48% (left eye) and 42% (right eye), a 53% increase in color perception, and a 31-turn improvement in the 6-Minute Walk Test. BESS errors reduced, heart rate recovery improved by 22 beats per minute, NEI VFQ-25 scores rose, and BDI-II scores declined. The control patient experienced no changes. Yoga therapy may complement pharmacological treatments for ON, offering benefits through anti-inflammatory effects, HPA axis modulation, and neuroprotective mechanisms that support remyelination. The integration of exercise and medication, termed "MedXercise," shows potential for managing vaccine-related side effects. Further research should explore varied exercise regimens to confirm these findings.

Keywords

• yoga therapy
• covid-19
• optic neuritis
• vaccination
• visual field
• sports medicine