Dry eyes can be caused by excessive exposure to screens, being in an air-conditioned room, or on a plane. Stress can aggravate the condition. Eye drops are usually recommended to treat this condition. However, a study has discovered an unusual and innovative cure for dry eyes, which can also improve mental health and reduce stress hormones.
Laughter can help treat dry eyes, study finds
Researchers in China and the UK have discovered an unusual approach to treating dry eye: laughter therapy.
“As a safe, environmentally friendly and low-cost intervention, laughter exercise could serve as a first-line home treatment for people with symptomatic dry eye disease,” said the authors of a study published Wednesday in the BMJ.
Since laughter therapy helps relieve stress, anxiety and depression while strengthening the immune system, it can activate immune cells and increase infection-fighting antibodies.
The study involved 283 people suffering from dry eye disease and they were divided into two groups. One group was given 0.1% sodium hyaluronic acid eye drops while the other was asked to perform laughter exercises.
Participants assigned to the laughter exercise were asked to watch an instructional video and repeat the phrases “Hehehehe, ha ha ha, cheese cheese cheese, cheek cheek cheek, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha” 30 times in five minutes, four times a day. They used an app to enhance their facial movements.
The other group applied 0.1% sodium hyaluronic acid eye drops to both eyes four times a day.
Benefits of laughter therapy for the eyes
After eight weeks of treatment, the laughter exercise was found to be as effective as eye drops, and even more beneficial for certain eye functions and mental health.
“Laughter exercise may alleviate dry eye disease indirectly by creating a persistent positive lifestyle effect,” the researchers said.
Dry eye symptoms include burning, redness, watery eyes, itching, blurred vision, and tired eyes. Laughter therapy can improve mood, reduce stress, relieve pain, and improve mental health, among other benefits.
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