“A randomized controlled trial found that laughter exercises were just as effective as artificial tears in reducing dry eye symptoms and also improved tear film stability, with no significant differences in other outcomes.”

A study published in the British Medical Journal compared the safety and effectiveness of laughter exercises to artificial tears containing 0.1% sodium hyaluronate in patients with dry eye disease (DED).

The research found that laughter exercises effectively reduced dry eye symptoms and improved tear film stability, similar to artificial tears. Dry eye disease (DED) impacts 360 million people globally, with its prevalence increasing due to factors such as aging, extended screen use, and air pollution. Positive emotional effects of laughter therapy are already recognized and also have been investigated for its potential benefits in various health conditions.

The study included 299 participants recruited through clinics, advertisements, and social media. They were randomly assigned to either a laughter exercise group (n=149) or a control group using 0.1% sodium hyaluronic acid eye drops (n=150), used four times daily for eight weeks.

Results showed that laughter exercises were non-inferior to artificial tears in reducing dry eye symptoms (measured by OSDI scores) at eight weeks. By week 12, the laughter group had even more significant symptom score improvements than the control group.

Secondary outcomes showed that similar participants in both groups achieved at least a 10-point reduction in OSDI scores, while the laughter group experienced significant improvement in tear film stability (measured by noninvasive TBUT).

The study suggested further research could focus on the ideal frequency and duration of laughter exercises, explore the biological mechanisms involved, and test its effectiveness for other eye conditions. Performing laughter exercises four times daily was as effective as artificial tears in relieving DED symptoms.

(Source:https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240916/Laughter-is-as-good-as-eye-drops-in-soothing-dry-eyes-study-finds.aspx)