A new study suggests that vigorous exercise can help dry eyes and itchy skin by increasing tear production.
Investigators classified 52 adults as “athletes” and “non-athletes.” The athletes exercised five or more times per week, while the non-athletes only exercised once.
All participants used the treadmill. Researchers performed eye examinations just before and after the sessions to measure tear production and the length of time the tear film remained stable on the eye before it began to dry. All participants showed improvements in tear quantity and quality following exercise. However, the athlete group experienced greater gains.
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A healthy tear film keeps the eyes moist and protects them from irritants like dust, dirt, or dry spots, which can cause stinging or burning. These findings were published in the January 20, 2022, issue of Experimental Eye Research and suggest that a better level of physical fitness, as well as longer periods of exercise, could be effective ways to increase eye moisture.