Differential effect of maximal incremental treadmill exercise on tear secretion and tear film stability in athletes and non-athletes
Highlights
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Summary
The study investigated the differential response to a single bout of maximal incremental treadmill exercise between athletes and non-athletes without dry eyes with respect to tear secretion, tear film stability, visual acuity (VA), and stereoacuity. Additionally, the study examined the effect of gender and duration of exercise on exercise-induced changes.
Study participants included young college students aged 18 to 25 who were either athletes (men/women: 13/13) or non-athletes (men/women: 17/9). Participants underwent an aerobic exercise session using a treadmill and following the treadmill testing protocol established by Bruce until exhaustion.
Measurements were taken in the order of VA distance, stereopsis, noninvasive tear breakup time (TBUT), and phenol red thread test, at baseline and after the exercise regimen.
Within- and between-subject analyzes were performed using multiple t tests with correction for multiple comparisons to determine differences before and after exercise in athletes and non-athletes.
Subsequently, ANCOVA was used to evaluate the influence of gender and exercise duration. The mean (SD) age of athletes and non-athletes was 22.4 ± 2.1 years and 21.8 ± 2.1 years, respectively (p = 0.357).
Before exercise , athletes had a higher TBUT than non-athletes (14.6 ± 2.9 s vs. 11.9 ± 3.8 s; p = 0.021), but no differences were observed in any other ocular measurements .
After exercise , athletes showed a significant improvement in tear secretion with baseline tear secretion increasing from 22.3 ± 2.5 mm to 25.8 ± 1.7 mm (p < 0.001).
Non -athletes , on the other hand, had a borderline increase in tear secretion from 21.42 ± 2.85 mm to 23.73 ± 2.68 mm (p = 0.08). Furthermore, TBUT was greatly improved in athletes after exercise compared to non-athletes (17.7 ± 2.7 s vs. 14.8 ± 2.9 s, p = 0.004).
Furthermore, exercise improved VA indifferently between groups, while stereoacuity did not change after exercise in either group.
Gender did not influence differences in measures of tear function between athletes and non-athletes after exercise.
Exercise duration, however, showed a borderline effect on tear film stability (p = 0.068) after exercise.
Our findings support the differential effect of maximal incremental treadmill exercise on tear secretion and tear film stability between athletes and non-athletes.
Therefore, increasing physical fitness and duration of exercise may be crucial in improving tear function through aerobic exercise.
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Exercise May Provide Relief for Dry, Itchy Eyes
A team led by researchers at the University of Waterloo found that a significant increase in tear secretion and tear film stability after participating in aerobic exercise may be another remedy for relieving itchy and dry eyes.
Every time we blink, our eyes are covered by a tear film, an essential protective layer necessary to maintain healthy eye function. The healthy tear film consists of three layers (oil, water, and mucin) that work together to hydrate the ocular surface and protect against infection-causing irritants, such as dust or dirt.
When any part of the tear film becomes unstable, the ocular surface may develop dry spots, causing ocular symptoms such as itching or stinging and burning sensations.
“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 sciences at Waterloo. “Rather than having to use eye drops or other alternative treatments, our study aimed to determine whether staying physically active can be an effective preventative measure against dryness.”
Fifty-two participants were divided into two groups, athletes and non-athletes, to participate in an exercise session. Participants in the athlete group exercised at least five times a week, while non-athlete participants exercised no more than once a week.
The researchers, who included experts from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, conducted visual examinations before and five minutes after each exercise session, where tear secretion and tear breakup time were assessed.
While participants in the athlete group showed the greatest increase, Otchere says that all participants experienced a significant increase in the number of tears and tear film stability after the exercise session.
“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.”
