The treatment of eye irritation and dryness relies on the use of products that replace tears. But according to a recent study, it would be enough to practice a physical activity to fight against this unpleasant feeling.
- Physical activity contributes to the improvement of tear break-up time, lacrimal secretion and visual acuity.
- It is recommended that adults between the ages of 18 and 64 devote at least 150 to 300 minutes per week to moderate-intensity endurance activity.
We know that sport is beneficial for the health of the heart, body and mind. According to an international group of researchers, exercise would also be effective in soothing irritated and dry eyes. To reach this conclusion, the scientists carried out a study published in the journal Experimental Eye Research. “Instead of having to use drops or other alternative treatments, our study aimed to determine whether staying physically active can be an effective preventative measure against dryness”said Heinz Otchere, author of the research, in a press release from the University of Waterloo in Canada.
In order to carry out their work, they recruited 52 people between the ages of 18 and 25. Some of the volunteers were athletes. They were divided into two groups. The first, made up of athletes, practiced a sporting activity at least five times a week. The rest of the participants exercised once a week. Researchers at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, performed eye exams before and five minutes after each session, during which tear secretion and tear break-up time were assessed.
Physical activity, the remedy to improve eye quality and comfort
According to the results, a significant increase in the quantity of tears and the stability of the tear film, which lines the cornea, was observed in adults of both groups after the practice of physical activity. An improvement in visual acuity was also observed in all participants. However, athletes saw much greater improvement than non-athletes.
“Gender had no influence on the differences in tear function measures between athletes and non-athletes after exercise. Duration of exercise showed a limited effect on tear film stability after exercise”, can we read in the searches.
“It can be difficult for people to exercise regularly when they are asked to work longer and longer hours in front of screens. However, our results show that physical activity can be really important not only for our general well-being, but also for our eye health”, concluded Heinz Otchere.
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