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Doctors will advise that half an hour exercise a day will keep your waistline, heart and outlook on life healthy. Let’s not forget the benefit exercise also has on your eye health. There are numerous eye diseases that can have a knock on effect from various general illnesses including high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and diabetes.
Studies have investigated to see if there is a link between exercise and ocular perfusion pressure, which is an important factor in glaucoma development. Researchers found that those who engaged in some moderate physical exercise were 25% less likely to develop glaucoma than others who were for the majority not exercising.
In a further study of just under 4000 people it was discovered that exercisers who took to the gym at least three times a week were were also less likely to develop AMD than people who didn’t use their gym membership or exercise at all.
For glaucoma patients some moderate physical exercise can help improve the blood flow to your optic nerve and retina and also lower your intraocular pressure (IOP). This has to be an ongoing regime however, as on cessation of exercise your IOP will return to its previous levels.
With the Olympics around the corner you don’t need to be competing for Gold or even the Bronze, but a decent all round fitness regime will reap benefits for your overall fitness and general eye health, keeping your GP and your Optician happy!