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Assessment of Visual Function and Structural Retinal Changes in Zen Meditators: Potential Effect of Mindfulness on Visual Ability

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether Zen meditation (a mindfulness-based practice) stimulates visual function and increases retinal and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. This cross-sectional controlled study included 36 eyes of 18 meditators and 76 eyes of 38 age- and sex-matched healthy non-meditators. The average response of both eyes in each subject was analyzed. All subjects underwent evaluation of high and low contrast visual acuity (using ETDRS charts), contrast sensitivity vision (CSV) using the Pelli Robson chart and CSV 1000E test, color vision (using the Farnsworth and L’Anthony desaturated D15 color tests), stereoscopic vision using the TNO test, and retinal and RNFL thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Differences in visual function and RNFL thickness were compared between groups. Our results indicated that meditators exhibited significantly better visual acuity with the three contrast levels used and significantly better contrast sensitivity vision (CSV 1000E) than healthy non-meditators (p ≤ 0.05). Retinal and RNFL structural measurements did not differ significantly between groups. Ganglion cell layer thickness was moderately correlated with visual acuity, CSV, color vision, and stereoscopic vision (p ≤ 0.05; r > 0.6). In conclusion, visual function was enhanced in meditators without significant alterations in the retinal morphologic structure. Further studies are needed to determine whether there is a causal association between mindfulness and visual function improvement.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Zen Master Dokusho Villalba and the Spanish Soto Zen Community for their support and collaboration throughout the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ophthalmology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, C/ Padre Arrupe. Consultas Externas de Oftalmología, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    E. Garcia-Martin, E. Ruiz-de-Gopegui, S. Otin, A. Blasco, J. M. Larrosa, V. Polo & L. E. Pablo

  2. Aragones Institute of Health Research, IIS-Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain

    E. Garcia-Martin, E. Ruiz-de-Gopegui, S. Otin, A. Blasco, J. M. Larrosa, V. Polo, L. E. Pablo & J. Garcia-Campayo

  3. Psychiatry Department, Red de Investigación en Atención primaria (REDIAPP), Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain

    J. Garcia-Campayo

  4. Mente Aberta – Brazilian Center for Mindfulness and Health Promotion, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    M. M. P. Demarzo

Authors
  1. E. Garcia-Martin
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  2. E. Ruiz-de-Gopegui
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  3. S. Otin
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  4. A. Blasco
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  5. J. M. Larrosa
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  6. V. Polo
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  7. L. E. Pablo
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  8. M. M. P. Demarzo
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  9. J. Garcia-Campayo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Garcia-Martin.

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Compliance with ethical standards

All subjects provided detailed consent to participate in this study, which was conducted in accordance with the guidelines established by the Ethics Committee of the Miguel Servet Hospital and based on the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no financial support, funding, disclosures or financial conflicts of interest.

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Garcia-Martin, E., Ruiz-de-Gopegui, E., Otin, S. et al. Assessment of Visual Function and Structural Retinal Changes in Zen Meditators: Potential Effect of Mindfulness on Visual Ability. Mindfulness 7, 979–987 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0537-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0537-5

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