Parched Eyes? Laughter May Be the Best Medicine, Study Says

Laughter may be the best medicine, not just for relaxing the mind. Scientists now suggest it may also be a secure, inexpensive remedy for people with parched eyes.

Parched eye disease occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears, causing discomfort, redness, and itching. It is a common condition which affects about 16 million people in the U.S. and 360 million people worldwide. Certain medications, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors, such as screen apply, contact lens apply, and smoking, can affect risk.

Previous studies have shown that laughter exercises can lend a hand with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Laughter has also been found to relieve chronic pain and boost immune function. Recognizing these benefits, it is now being used as a complementary therapy for mental health conditions such as cancer and diabetes.

The Latest test published in The BMJ tested the efficacy and safety of laughter exercises in patients with symptomatic parched eye disease. The results suggest that “as a secure, environmentally cordial and inexpensive intervention, laughter exercises may serve as a first-line home treatment for people with symptomatic parched eye disease and restricted corneal staining.”

Researchers conducted an eight-week study of 283 participants aged 18 to 45 to test the benefits. The participants had symptomatic parched eye and were tested using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) to determine the severity of the disease. They were randomly assigned to receive either laughter exercises or treatment with 0.1% sodium hyaluronic acid eye drops four times a day.

Participants in the laughter exercise group watched an instructional video and were asked to repeat the phrase “Hee hee hee, hah hah hah, cheese cheese cheese, cheek cheek cheek, hah hah hah hah hah hah” 30 times during each five-minute session. A mobile facial recognition app was used to standardize the exercise and reinforce facial movements, and eye drop application was also tracked using the same app.

“The mean OSDI score at eight weeks was 10.5 points lower (representing less discomfort) in the laughter exercise group and 8.83 lower in the control group, with a mean difference of -1.45 points, suggesting that laughter exercise was no less effective than eye drops,” the paper reads. press release it was stated.

Another essential finding was that the laughter group had better scores on noninvasive tear breakup time (the time it takes for the first parched spot to appear on the cornea after blinking), meibomian gland function (sebaceous glands that prevent tears from evaporating too quickly), and mental health outcomes.