Exercise for Eye Health

With the start of the New Year, many people set their sights on getting into better shape. One component of improved health is exercise. We know that regular exercise is good for the heart, mood, and waistline, but it may also be good for your eyes and vision. The article below takes a look at how exercise may protect the eyes and what you can do to get started. 
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How exercise may help vision and eye health 

When you exercise, you improve blood flow to various parts of your body, including the eyes. Better blood flow to the eyes helps provide the nutrients your eyes need to stay healthy.

Exercise also helps manage diabetes by promoting a healthy weight and better management of blood sugar levels. Diabetes can cause eye disease. Lowering the rate of diabetes or diabetic complications can also reduce the risk of related vision issues.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, multiple studies have also shown exercise may help with reducing the risk of certain eye diseases. For example, a study by the University of Virginia found that regular exercise reduced the overgrowth of blood vessels in the eyes by about 45 percent in lab mice. This may indicate that exercise may prevent or at least slow the development of macular degeneration.

Other studies also found that people that exercised for 30 minutes daily were 25% less likely to develop glaucoma than those that did not exercise.   

If that was not enough to get you to lace up your walking shoes, regular exercise might also help lower the risk of age-related cataracts. It may also help people that already have an eye disease manage it better. For instance, if you have glaucoma, exercise can improve blood flow to the optic nerve and may lower eye pressure. 
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How much exercise do we need?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology agrees with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to how much exercise we need. The CDC recommends about 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week. You can break down the exercise into about five 30-minute exercise sessions a week. 
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Exercise tips to get started 

Although most of us know many of the health benefits of getting regular exercise, it can be challenging to stick with a program. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 23% of adults meet the guidelines for getting enough aerobic and strengthening exercises. Only slightly over 50% get enough aerobic exercise.

There are steps you can take to increase your chances of sticking with an exercise program. Consider the following suggestions:

Find something you like: Exercise does not have to be a chore. It can be enjoyable. It just may take a little trial and error to find an activity you like. Options to try include walking, dance classes, sports, and yoga.

Workout with a partner: If you enlist the support of a friend, it might make sticking with your exercise regime easier.

Consider a personal trainer: Sometimes, the gym can be intimidating. A few sessions with a personal trainer may help you figure out what to do.

Start slow: You don’t need to run a marathon or spend two hours a day weightlifting. Start slow and ease into an exercise routine.

In addition to exercise, getting regular eye exams is also a crucial part of maintaining healthy eyes and good vision. We are happy to help. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.