Keep your eyes healthy and exercise your vision! Research shows that regular exercise may reduce the change of sight loss that can occur from high blood pressure, diabetes and the narrowing and hardening of the arteries in the eyes.

Our eyes are amazing and extremely important to our everyday lives. We all know how to look after our bodies and it’s no secret that good old fashion exercise can create a positive effect all through-out your body.

Undergoing a yearly or more if necessary, an eye exam will tell you all you and your doctor need to know about your eye health. An eye exam will be able to point out anything sinister in your eyes or if it is related to a bigger health problem – such as diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious condition that affects over 4 million people in the UK alone. When having an eye exam, your doctor will be looking specifically for diabetic retinopathy – a condition that affects and changes the blood vessels of the eye caused by high blood pressure. Symptoms may not appear for a while which is why it is important to make those eye exams every year. Symptoms do include:

• Spotted vision
• Blurred vision
• The loss of colour in vision
• Distorted vision
• Loss of central vision

Exercise can also help reduce the risk of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Studies have shown that vision loss and blindness is set to grow over the next 20 years’ which is why it is more important than ever to take care of our bodies and get that much-needed exercise.

It is proven that walking and running can reduce the risk of age-related cataracts which is more common in people over the age of 60. Glaucoma is caused by too much pressure on the eye which squeezes the optic nerve, regular low-intensity exercise will help reduce the risk of this.

Some people love to exercise and others don’t but we’re sure there is a form of exercise out there for everyone. From a walk to the shops every day to 15-minute work-out sessions in the comfort of your own home, a little exercise is always better than nothing.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.