Healthy vision starts with a healthy body!
Just as your whole body benefits from frequent exercise, so do your eyes. In fact, a healthy lifestyle including a nutritional diet and regular physical activity can help protect your vision from the devastating effects of eye disease.
Reduce Your Risk Of Eye Disease Through Exercise
Some of the most common eye diseases that lead to low vision and blindness as one gets older are glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. In recent years, there have been several studies highlighting the benefits of exercise on vision health, especially in regards to preventing eye disease.
In one study, researchers followed around 4,000 men and women for 15 years, noting the level of their regular physical activity. One in four had an active lifestyle and exercised three or more times per week. The participants’ eyes were examined every five years. The results of the study showed that those who exercised regularly were 70 percent less likely to develop wet age-related macular degeneration than those who led sedentary lifestyles.
Exercise has been shown to also help people with glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the optic nerve is damaged due to lack of blood supply. This is often associated with higher eye pressures. Another study measuring the relationship between exercise and eye pressure found that people who engaged in moderate physical exercise were 25 percent less likely to develop glaucoma than people with more inactive lifestyles.
A nutritious diet and regular exercise can also help prevent the development of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, all of which can have negative effects on vision.
Get Out There And Get Active
While there are plenty of other factors that go into developing eye disease, exercise and overall health are important components. And remember, you don’t have to run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise. Walking, dancing, jogging and climbing stairs are great places to start. So get out there and get active. Your eyes will thank you for it!
