HEALTH TIPS: Eyes and exercise

Health Tip – Audio Version - Eyes and exercise
Health Tip – Healthy Next Step: Age-related Macular Degeneration (NIHSeniorHealth.gov)

Being active may be good for the eyes. Researchers say people who kept active were less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. AMD gradually destroys the sharp central vision we use to see objects clearly – for instance, while reading.

Michael Knudtson of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health investigated AMD’s “wet” form, when abnormal blood vessels grow and leak fluid in the eye.

The study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Knudtson says more research is needed to know if exercise made the difference, but 15 years of data found active people were better off.

“Persons reporting an active lifestyle, defined as regular activity three or more times per week, were 70 percent less likely than non-active persons to develop ‘wet’ AMD.”

Health Tip courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last revised: January, 26 2007