It has long been said that laughter is the best medicine… possibly even for the eyes.
A study has shown that laughter can be as effective as eye drops against dry eyes.
Researchers suggest it could be prescribed as an alternative treatment for the condition that causes itchy, red eyes and affects around one in seven Britons.
Laughter has been linked to a number of health benefits, from relieving stress and chronic pain to strengthening the immune system.
Scientists from the United Kingdom and China set out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laughter exercise in patients with symptoms of dry eye disease.
A study has found that laughter can be as effective as eye drops when it comes to dry eyes.
Researchers suggest it could be prescribed as an alternative treatment for the condition that causes red, itchy eyes and affects around one in seven Britons.
The trial involved 283 people, aged 18 to 45, who were diagnosed using the NHS-preferred Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).
They took sodium hyaluronic acid eye drops four times a day for eight weeks or were assigned to a laughter exercise group for the same period.
After watching an instructional video, the laughing group was asked to vocalize and repeat phrases such as “He, he, he,” “ha, ha, ha,” and “cheese, cheese, cheese.”
They would complete this 30 times per five-minute session, using a facial recognition mobile app to standardize the exercise and improve facial movements.
Both treatments were discontinued at eight weeks and any changes in ocular surface discomfort scores were measured at ten and twelve weeks.
The average OSDI score at eight weeks was 10.5 points lower, indicating less discomfort, in the laughter exercise group and 8.83 points lower for those using eye drops, suggesting it was more effective.
The laughter exercise also showed significant improvements in other measures of eye health, such as moisture after blinking, the function of the oil glands that help prevent tears from evaporating too quickly, and overall mental health.
In a paper published in the BMJ, authors from Belfast University and China’s Sun Yatsen University said it could prove a cheap and effective alternative to eye drops.
They added: “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 and limited corneal staining.”