Staying Fit Is Good For Your Eyes

Exercise could provide an extra bonus if you are one of the 3 million Americans who have glaucoma, or among the many millions more who are at risk for developing the disease.

While the mainstay of glaucoma therapy remains lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) with medication, laser treatment or surgery, there is some evidence that a regular aerobic program can help support your medical therapy.

Numerous studies have looked at different types of dynamic aerobic exercise – bicycling, brisk walking, marathon running, jogging, swimming, gym conditioning – and determined that when exercise is intense, IOP falls substantially. The degree and duration of pressure reduction differs from study to study depending on the intensity and time span of the exercise. And the benefit continues only as long as you continue exercising. But even if you have been sedentary, simply going for a walk three or more times a week is a good start.

A few words of caution. Exercises in which you stand on your head or shoulders or invert your body – as in upside-down yoga positions, scuba diving and bungee jumping – should be avoided as they can raise IOP. Exercises in which you inhale and then hold your breath – such as weightlifting – appear to have a negative impact on IOP as well.

Also, some forms of glaucoma (such as closed angle) are not responsive to the effects of exercise and other types of the disease (such as pigmentary glaucoma) may develop a temporary increase in IOP after vigorous exercise. The bottom line: always check with your ophthalmologist and your general physician before starting any new exercise regime!

A final note: while drinking plenty of fluid is important before, during and after exercising, drink fluids slowly. Drinking a quart of water within 15 to 30 minutes can cause a rise in IOP. Use common sense as to how fast it goes down!