Regular exercise can shrink your waistline and improve your mood. A small study in mice suggests that exercise may also help prevent eye damage.
Whether the findings apply to humans is still being determined. However, some researchers are cautiously optimistic because the results are consistent with past studies showing that exercise benefits the human body.
“This new study is exciting because it supports previous research findings that there is a link between exercise and prevention of macular degeneration,” said J. Kevin McKinney, MD, MPH, an ophthalmologist and spokesperson for the college.
Past studies in humans have suggested that exercise may help prevent serious eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration. The new research is interesting because, rather than relying on people self-reporting their exercise, it looked directly at how physical activity changed cells and tissues in the eyes of mice, the researchers said.
Exercise can promote the health of blood vessels in the eyes.
The researchers studied two groups of six mice each: one group had access to a runner, while the other did not. Four weeks later, the researchers treated the eyes of the mice with lasers to mimic the changes that occur in humans with age-related vision loss. After this treatment, the physically active mice had 45 percent less eye damage than inactive mice.
This study suggests that exercise can prevent the excessive growth of blood vessels in eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.
Regular physical activity promotes eye health.
Scientists are still trying to understand how exercise protects the human eye. Their findings could open the way to treatments for many eye conditions.
If you already have an eye condition, exercise can help you manage it better. One study found that people who engage in moderate physical activity are less likely to develop glaucoma than those who do not exercise. Physical exercise can also help people with diabetes manage their condition. This reduces the risk of complications, including diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults.
How much should I exercise?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the American Heart Association recommend weekly 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise. This equates to 30 minutes a day, five days a week. This can include walking, biking, swimming, dancing, and even active gardening. Constant physical exercise can help you and your eyes stay healthy.
