It is also good for morale.
Dry eye is a common and very unpleasant condition. It is characterized by tear film instability, visual disturbances and affects approximately 360 million people worldwide. The most common symptoms are red, irritated and/or itchy eyes. In recent years, its prevalence has increased due to increased screen time and increased air pollution. “This disorder can be extremely debilitating and the burden continues to increase as the world’s population ages.” notes Professor Nathan Congdon, co-author of a Chinese-British trial that highlighted a new trick to limit dry eyes.
The scientists conducted their trial on 299 adults with symptomatic dry eye. One group served as a control group and received hyaluronic acid eye drops. The other group was assigned to laughter exercises (you read that right). Both groups followed their “treatment” 4 times a day for 8 weeks. The subjects in the “laughing” group were asked to repeat the phrases “Hee hee hee, hah hah hah, cheese cheese cheese, cheek cheek cheek, hah hah hah hah hah hah” 30 times in a 5-minute session, following vocalizations shown on video.
According to the results published in the British Medical Journalafter 2 months, laughing or putting drops in the eyes was also effective against dry eyes. On the other hand, after 3 months, the participants who followed the laughter exercises suffered less than the others from dry eyes.As a safe, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive intervention, laughter exercises could serve as a first-line home treatment for people with symptomatic dry eye.” said Professor Congdon in a press release.
Designed to create positive emotions, laughter therapy is already recognized for its ability to relieve depression, anxiety and chronic pain, while boosting immune function.Laughter is also an excellent treatment for dry eyes, especially in areas where resources are more limited, drops are expensive and may be inaccessible.” concludes the scientist.