Active Lifestyle is Beneficial for Eyes

For those who are exercising regularly, this is good news, whereas people that still are not, it’s the right time to run that extra mile. It’s proven that regular exercise is beneficial for the eyes. To add more, there are additional benefits by exercising regularly, as the study also says patients with glaucoma could be remediated via physical activity.

The journal of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science has recently published studies that revealed causes and effects between risks for glaucoma and physical fitness. The journal reveals that exercising at higher levels has long-term benefits as it directly impacts on OPP (low ocular perfusion pressure), which is thought to affect glaucoma and a major risk factor.

The study comprised of about 6000 participants, both women and men that were aged between 48 to 90 years in order to find out if a relationship did exist between physical activity and OPP. Participants were allowed to self-assess themselves about their physical activities while at leisure and at work and categorized as moderately active, inactive, moderately inactive or active. The researchers then used the Norfolk Study utilizing three measurements in order to check IOP (intraocular pressure). Diastolic and systolic pressures were then recorded as the averages of 2 measurements were taken using a sphygmomanometer. The study concluded saying participants that did exercise moderately for 15 years did have a reduced 25% risk of getting low OPP.

One of the researchers Dr. Paul Foster (University College London Institute of Ophthalmology) says the determination of OPP is through cardiovascular fitness. He says they could not comment on the causes, but an association within factors increasing the risk of glaucoma and sedentary lifestyle was very much certain. He tells, in the previous years, glaucoma’s risk factor was IOP corrected by laser, surgery or medication. He says they believed their studies show new ways of reducing risks of glaucoma via maintaining active lifestyles, and in that way more people could participate in reducing glaucoma risks including many other worrisome health problems.

The research surely paves a way and issues warnings that exercise is imperative to not only maintain the tone and shape of your body, but also helps in keeping a check to reduce various risk factors accountable to diseases, and in this case glaucoma and eye care. So, running that extra mile is always beneficial with more pros and less cons.