Dry, itchy eyes may be relieved by daily exercise
Key Takeaways:
- A group of researchers from the University of Waterloo has made some interesting discoveries about how exercise can be beneficial for various reasons.
- They discovered that aerobic exercise increases tear secretion and tear film stability, suggesting it could be used as another treatment for dry, itchy eyes.
A team led by University of Waterloo researchers has made some interesting discoveries about how exercise is useful for various reasons, including maintaining a healthy heart, preventing diabetes, and preventing obesity.
They discovered that aerobic exercise causes a significant increase in tear secretion and tear film stability, which could be another treatment for dry, itchy eyes. Their research was published in the journal 'Experimental Eye Research' under the title 'Differential effect of maximal accumulative treadmill exercise on tear secretion as well as tear film stability in athletes and non-athletes.'
Otchere, Samuel Abokyi, Sekyere Nyamaah, Michael Ntodie of the University of Cape Coast, and Yaw Osei Akoto of Ghana's Our Lady of Grace Hospital co-authored the study.
Our eyes are covered in tear film every time we blink, an important protective layer for maintaining healthy ocular function. The three layers of a healthy tear film are oil, water, and mucin, which work to hydrate the ocular surface and protect it from infection-causing irritants like dust or dirt.
The ocular surface can develop dry spots when any part of the tear film becomes unstable, causing eye symptoms such as itchiness, stinging, and burning sensations.
Fifty-two people were split into two groups to participate in an exercise session: athletes and non-athletes. The athlete set exercised at least 5 times per week, while the non-athlete group exercised not multiple times per week. Researchers, which involved experts from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, conducted visual examinations previously and 5 minutes after each exercise session, where tear secretion and tear break-up time were assessed.
While the athlete group showed the greatest improvement, Otchere claims that all participants saw a significant increase in tear quantity and tear film stability after the exercise session.
"It can be difficult for people to exercise regularly when they are expected to work longer hours beside screens," Otchere stated. "However, our findings show that physical activity is important not only for our overall health but also for our eye health."