Laughter may not only ease stress and enhance mood but could also provide relief for those suffering from dry eye disease, according to recent research. Dry eye disease, characterized by insufficient tear production leading to discomfort, redness, and itching, affects approximately 16 million people in the U.S. and 360 million globally. Contributing factors include certain medications, medical conditions, and lifestyle elements such as prolonged screen time, contact lens use, and smoking.
Previous studies have highlighted laughter’s benefits for mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as its role in alleviating chronic pain and boosting immune function. These findings have led to the incorporation of laughter as a complementary therapy for various health conditions, including cancer and diabetes.
A new study, published in The BMJ, explores the potential of laughter exercises as a treatment for symptomatic dry eye disease. The research suggests that laughter, being a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly intervention, could serve as a viable home-based treatment for individuals with this condition.
In the study, 283 participants aged 18 to 45 with symptomatic dry eye were enrolled in an eight-week trial. They were divided into two groups: one performing laughter exercises and the other using 0.1% sodium hyaluronic acid eye drops four times daily. Participants in the laughter group watched an instructional video and repeated a specific set of phrases 30 times during each five-minute session. The exercises were standardized with the help of a face recognition mobile app, which also monitored eye drop usage.
Results indicated that the average ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, which measures eye discomfort, dropped by 10.5 points in the laughter exercise group compared to 8.83 points in the control group, with a mean difference of -1.45 points. This suggests that laughter exercises were as effective as eye drops in reducing discomfort.
Additionally, the laughter group showed improvements in non-invasive tear break-up time, meibomian gland function, and mental health scores, further supporting the potential benefits of this innovative approach.
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