Each time you blink, your eyes are naturally covered with a substance known as “tear film” – which while it sounds like “tears” isn’t necessarily the same thing.
In fact, while there are three forms of tears, based on what gets them flowing, tear film itself is actually an essential protective coating that keeps your eye function going strong.
When your tear film is healthy, your eyes feel great.
But when that film is compromised, you suffer from dry, irritated eyes.
Eyes that burn, itch, sting and leave you blinking again and again in desperation.
And while drug companies would love you to rely on them to handle the problem, the truth is one of the most popular prescriptions for dry eyes was considered so ineffective it actually failed its FDA review its first time out.
Luckily, according to University of Waterloo researchers, dry eye sufferers might just be able to skip the prescriptions, the drops and even the over-the-counter drops and instead simply hit the gym to find relief.
The importance of tear film
Before we go further though, let’s dig a little more into what exactly tear film is and how problems with it can lead to dry eyes.
As we said, tear film acts as a coating for the surface of your eyes. Made up of three layers – oil, water and mucin – it works to hydrate your eyes, guarding them against infection-causing irritants like dust and dirt.
However, since tear film isn’t static, it can become unstable. When this happens the surface of your eyes can develop dry spots and experience symptoms like itchiness, stinging and burning that can drive you crazy.
Sadly, it’s an issue that’s only accelerating…
“With so much of our activity tied to screen usage, dry eye symptoms are becoming increasingly common,” said Heinz Otchere, a Ph.D. candidate in vision science at Waterloo. “Instead of having to use eye drops or other alternative treatments, our study aimed to determine if remaining physically active can be an effective preventative measure against dryness.”
Exercise versus dry eyes
The researchers divided 52 participants into two groups — the athletes and those who would rather skip the gym. And they asked both to participate in aerobic exercise but at different levels.
While the non-athletes exercised no more than once a week, the athletes kicked it up a few notches going for at least five times a week.
Before and after each session, the researchers monitored their eyes for tear secretion and break-up time.
And as you might imagine, the athletes grabbed big wins with the largest increase in the health of their tear film.
But don’t count out the non-athletes…
Even the group that only exercised once a week saw a meaningful boost in tear quantity and tear film stability after the exercise session!
“It can be challenging for people to regularly exercise when the demand is there to work increasingly longer hours in front of screens,” Otchere said. “However, our findings show physical activity can be really important for not just our overall well-being, but for our ocular health too.”
A few other ways to improve your tear production include omega-3s (from fatty fish or supplements), drinking tea or coffee and cutting back on sugar, artificial sweeteners and complex carbs.
Sources:
Exercise can provide relief for dry, itchy eyes — Waterloo News
Why Do We Cry? The Truth Behind Your Tears — Cleveland Clinic