Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Tear Volume in Healthy Young Adults

Background: This study evaluates the impact of a 5-minute aerobic exercise session on tear volume in healthy young adults, with comparisons across sex. Methods: Sixty-four healthy adults (33 females, 31 males; ages 18–28) were recruited from the University of Ilorin. Inclusion criteria included normal ocular health and the ability to cycle moderately for 5 minutes. Exclusion criteria were any conditions affecting tear production, medications altering it, contact lens use, recent ocular surgeries, or exercise contraindications. Informed consent was obtained. Data were analysed using SPSS (Version 25.0) with descriptive demographics and tear volume statistics. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed normality, paired-samples t-tests compared tear volume under different conditions, and independent-samples t-tests compared sexes, with significance at p < 0.05. Result: Paired t-tests showed a significant decrease in tear volume during exercise compared to before (t(63) = 3.36, p < .001) and a significant increase after exercise compared to during (t(63) = -3.02, p = .004). No significant difference was found between before and after exercise (t(63) = -0.50, p = .617). These findings indicate that exercise temporarily lowers tear volume, with a subsequent recovery post-exercise. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that short durations of aerobic exercise can increase tear secretion in healthy individuals.