BACKGROUND: Individuals affected with glaucoma and cataracts are more likely to experience depressive symptoms, which can affect their overall quality of life (QOL) and functioning. Therefore, this retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on glaucoma or cataracts patients with mild to moderate depression. METHODS: This study included patients with mild to moderate depression resulting from glaucoma or cataracts in our hospital from January 2023 to December 2023. The study participants were divided into an untreated group and a cognitive behavioral therapy group based on different intervention methods. We assessed depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). QOL was evaluated using the Chinese translation version of the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions scale (EQ-5D), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A). Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was administered to a subgroup of patients with mild to moderate depression, and the impact of CBT on the well-being of the patients was analyzed. RESULTS: This study included 3010 individuals, consisting of untreated patients (n = 2151) and those who received cognitive behavioral therapy (n = 859). Post-intervention analysis revealed that compared to baseline, the CES-D scores (p <
0.001), PHQ-9 scores (p <
0.001), and HADS anxiety subscale scores (p <
0.001) were significantly reduced in the CBT group. Furthermore, the CBT group demonstrated a significant increase in EQ-5D scores (p <
0.001) and SF-36 mental component scores (p <
0.001) post-intervention compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: These findings offer significant insights into the prospective effectiveness of CBT in improving depressive symptoms and QOL in individuals with glaucoma or cataracts.