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.
Miao et al. (Mon,) studied this question.