You may know that your overall health plays a leading role in the health of your eyes. For example, if you suffer from diabetes, it could affect your vision through diabetic retinopathy. It shouldn’t be surprising then that exercising can actually help you maintain eye health similarly to how it helps maintain your overall health. Certain studies have been done that show that exercise may help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration in particular.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This disease may fall into two different categories: wet and dry. Wet AMD results from an abnormal growth of blood vessels that end up leaking into the retina. Dry AMD results from the breakdown of the retinal pigment epithelial layer in the macula. The dry type of this disease is more common and could lead to the wet version.
There are certain factors that give people a greater risk of developing this condition. These risks include high cholesterol levels and weight. Your optometrist may want to see you more often if you are at risk to develop this disease.
How Does Exercise Help?
Exercise combats some of the risks associated with this and other eye-related diseases. Exercise may help people maintain a healthier weight, which reduces their risk of developing AMD. Exercise is also used to control cholesterol levels. While exercise does help reduce the risk of AMD, it can also simply help keep your body, and therefore your eyes, healthy. Certain exercises help regulate your eye pressure, which is associated with developing glaucoma.
It is important to realize that even if you exercise regularly, you may still develop AMD or another eye disease. Because of this possibility, you should still have regular comprehensive eye exams with your doctor.
Lifestyle Affects Eyes
When it comes down to it, your lifestyle affects your eye health and vision. Your eye doctor in the Conshohocken, PA, area may be able to give you tips for what you should eat and do to help maintain healthy eyes.
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