How to Prevent Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is a condition of the eyes, in which people experience loss of vision in the center of the visual field. It is usually age-related: the older you get, the more risk you run on getting it.

It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults (+50 years).

These pictures explain it well:

 

Now, up until recently it was believed that you could only help this condition by taking supplements and making changes to your diet.

While that strategy is still a very good one, this is also great to know:

Aerobic exercises such as walking and running can prevent macular degeneration.

A 2014 study done on mice shows that moderate aerobic exercise helps to protect the eyes from macular degeneration.

 

Which makes a lot of sense

To me, that’s just common sense. Exercise and improving bloodflow and oxygenation of the body is healthy. And it is healthy for the whole body. Eyes included.

I doubt if we really needed a study for that. (And I regret that this was done on mice.)

 

The study

This study involved training a group of mice to run on a treadmill for one hour per day, five days a week. The mice were then exposed to a type of “toxic light” known to cause retinal degeneration.

The findings show that moderate daily exercise can ward off age-related macular degeneration and other types of retinal degeneration.

Dr. Machelle Pardue, the leading researcher in the study, concludes this:

“This is the first report of simple exercise having a direct effect on retinal health and vision. This research may one day lead to tailored exercise regimens or combination therapies in treatments of blinding diseases.”

Read more here:
www.medicaldaily.com
Main photo by F Delventhal