Mapping the Research Landscape of Gut Microbiota in Autoimmune Eye Diseases: A Bibliometric Analysis and Knowledge Evolution Study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to systematically analyze and map the research landscape of gut microbiota in autoimmune eye diseases through comprehensive bibliometric analysis.

METHODS

We retrieved 261 relevant publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2010-2024) and analyzed them using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and biblioshiny.

RESULTS

The results reveal three distinct developmental phases: initial exploration (2010-2015), emerging growth (2016-2020), and rapid expansion (2021-2024). International collaboration analysis identified the United States and China as leading contributors, with strong European research clusters. Core research themes centered on gut microbiota-host immune system interactions, inflammatory pathways, and disease-specific microbial signatures. Temporal analysis demonstrated evolution from fundamental studies to mechanistic investigations and therapeutic applications. Citation analysis identified landmark studies that established gut-eye axis mechanisms and pathogenic processes. Analysis of research hotspots revealed increasing focus on personalized medicine approaches, multi-omics integration, and microbiome-based therapeutics.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the field, identifies research frontiers, and proposes future research directions, namely, methodological advancement, mechanistic understanding, and clinical translation.