While we know that exercise can benefit our well-being in all kinds of shapes, improving eye health is probably not something most people associate with physical activity. A new study has uncovered some useful new insights in this space, suggesting that regular exercise can promote hydration and help prevent dry, itchy eyes.
The research was led by scientists at the University of Waterloo in Canada and focuses on what’s known as the tear film, the protective layer that prevents dust, dirt and other irritants from coming into contact with the eyeball. A new layer of this film is placed over the eye each time we blink, acting as a critical protective measure against itching, burning, dry eyes and infection.
“Since so much of our activity is linked to screen use, dry eye symptoms are becoming more common,” said Heinz Otchere, a doctoral candidate in vision science at the University of Waterloo. “Instead of having to use eye drops or other alternative treatments, our study aimed to determine if staying physically active can be an effective preventative measure against dryness.”
The scientists recruited 52 participants and divided them into an “athlete” or “non-athlete” group, with the former exercising at least five times a week and the non-athlete group a maximum of once. The scientists then performed visual assessments of their eyes before and five minutes after each session.
… our findings show that physical activity can be really important not only for our general well-being, but also for our eye health.
This revealed that all participants enjoyed improvements in tear film formation and stability after each exercise session, with fitness and exercise duration factoring into their response. However, the ‘athlete’ group was found to have ‘very appreciable improvement’ compared to the non-athlete group.
“It can be challenging for people to exercise regularly when there is a demand to work longer and longer hours in front of screens,” Otchere said. “However, our findings show that physical activity can be really important not only for our general well-being, but also for our eye health.”
The research was published in the journal Experimental eye research.
Fountain: University of Waterloo
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