Is laughter the best medicine for dry eye disease? Chinese and UK scientists investigate

In a study into dry eye disease, Chinese and British researchers find that laughter therapy was as effective as eye drops

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A study has found that laughter could be as effective as eye drops for sufferers of dry eye disease. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:00pm, 16 Sep 2024

Laughter may be as effective as eye drops for people who suffer from dry eye disease, according to scientists in China and Britain, with the therapy offering a cheaper treatment for the condition.

Affecting around 360 million people globally, the chronic eye condition is becoming more prevalent due to an ageing population, air pollution and increased screen time.

Typically, artificial tears are used to alleviate the discomfort from dry eyes and stabilise tear film (the three layers that make up tears), with 0.1 per cent sodium hyaluronic acid one of the most commonly used artificial tears, according to the research team from Sun Yat-sen University, Xiamen University and Queen’s University Belfast.

“Dry eye disease is a chronic condition worldwide linked with psychological stress and poses an economic burden of long-term use of artificial tears,” the researchers wrote in a paper published in peer-reviewed journal The BMJ on Wednesday.

But instead of reaching for the eye drops, sufferers may simply need to have a good laugh, according to the researchers.

Laughter therapy or exercise is already used to reduce symptoms associated with mental health conditions. Now the team has suggested it could be a cheaper and more environmentally friendly treatment for dry eye disease in patients with limited corneal abrasions.