Exercise For Prolonged Eye Health
It’s no secret that physical exercise is vastly beneficial for overall health, and maintaining long-term wellness. Good for the heart, muscles, and the functionality of just about every bodily system, regular physical exercise can stave off disease, and prolong overall health and wellness. While most people are aware of the general benefits of regular exercise, they are not aware of the ocular benefits of physical exercise. LA’s leading Ophthalmologist, Dr. Tom Chang MD, touts the vast eye-specific benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, complete with regular exercise. In addition to specific eye health benefits, a newly released study suggests that regular exercise can ward off eye disease.
Warding Off Degenerative Eye Disease
A newly released study suggests that regular physical exercise throughout a lifetime can guard against eye damage, which could, in turn, minimize the risk for Macular Degeneration. As a leading cause of vision impairment and loss amongst people over the age of 50, Macular Degeneration is a degenerative condition that grows in severity over time. In addition to Macular Degeneration, findings suggest that exercise can also minimize the occurrence of other degenerative conditions like glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
This study examined the direct effects of physical exercise on the eye. According to Dr. Tom Chang MD, this methodology is much more efficient than relying on self-reporting, as people often tend to over-report participation in physical exercise. Utilizing exercise behavior in mice, along with resulting eye health, researchers found a strong correlation between eye resilience and physical exercise. Thus, researchers surmised that exercise boosts the eye’s resilience. It can prevent the overgrowth of blood vessels, which typically happens in degenerative eye conditions.
This innovative study draws conclusions that can be applied to the human eye. Other self-reporting studies conducted on humans reveal that those who engage in moderate physical exercise were 25% less likely to develop glaucoma, as compared to non-active counterparts. In those who already have glaucoma, regular exercise has been shown to lower pressure, and increase blood flow to the optic nerve and retina. For people with diabetes, several studies have suggested that regular exercise can help people effectively manage their diabetes. The ability to successfully manage diabetes is then linked to a reduction of tertiary conditions, including diabetic retinopathy. Experts like Tom Chang MD agree that these overall health benefits can prevent a snowball effect of symptoms that can include the onset of degenerative eye diseases.
Boosting Eye Wellness
During an exercise of any variety, various causes and effects reactions occur throughout the entire body. While many forms of exercise target specific body parts, other systems, and parts benefit from tertiary effects, including the eyes. During cardiovascular exercise, intraocular pressure is relieved. This lowered pressure helps to keep the retinal ganglion cells protected, according to Tom Chang MD. In addition, regular cardiovascular exercise can increase blood flow to the retina and optic nerve, championing long-term ocular wellness.
What Counts?
Of course, individual people have various restrictions, bespoke needs, and abilities when it comes to physical exercise. Moderation is always key, and a healthy exercise schedule relies more on long-term cooperation than occasional bouts of overdoing it. Thus, experts like Tom Chang MD recommend that those new to exercise consult with their physicians, and follow a recommended program. To maximize eye health benefits via exercise, people should generally aim for moderate cardiovascular exercise roughly four times per week. Taking a walk, swimming, and bike riding are all great forms of cardiovascular activity. Even surprising activities can count toward the goal of an increasingly healthy lifestyle, like cleaning the house or dancing.
What Else?
In addition to maintaining a healthy and robust exercise regimen, Dr. Tom Chang MD also touts the importance of a healthy diet for eye health. Consuming plenty of foods rich in lutein, zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins C and E can help to ward off eye disease and prolong ocular wellness. These nutrients are found in leafy greens, salmon, tuna, citrus fruit, pork, and oysters.
A healthy exercise regimen and a commitment to eating well should be combined with other lifestyle choices to maximize benefits. Abstaining from smoking, wearing sunglasses regularly, and wearing protective eye gear are a few other eye health basics that will prolong overall eye health.
