Research shows that simple exercise could be the answer to improving your vision. Exercise is linked to improved retinal health and prevention of common eye diseases. Although exercise in general is considered to be essential to overall health, for the first time a study has linked exercise directly with retinal health. This research could lead to better prevention and treatment of common retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Study Connects Exercise and Better Vision
The study, titled “Aerobic Exercise Protects Retinal Function and Structure from Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration,” is the first of its kind in proving a retinal benefit from exercise. The study examined damaged nerve cells in the retina of mice before and after aerobic exercise. Mice were exposed to toxic bright light after running on a treadmill. Researchers found that the aerobic exercise preserved proper cell functioning in the retina when under stress of the bright light.
The positive results of this study could lead to new advances in treatment for patients with AMD or other common degenerative eye diseases that affect the retina. Exercise could prevent the onset of these diseases, and it could also be used through targeted exercise regimens and combination therapy to help treat these conditions and improve vision in patients suffering from them.
Study: “Aerobic Exercise Protects Retinal Function and Structure from Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration” (The Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 34, No. 7, P. 2406),