How exercise impacts glaucoma – Gurjeet Jutley

MARCH, 2019

In this article Gurjeet Jutley explores how exercise can have a positive impact on Glaucoma and what research has been done on this subject.

Glaucoma is an eye condition where the optic nerve connected the eye to the brain is damaged. It generally happens when fluid builds up on the front area of the eye. This increases the pressure inside the eye. When glaucoma isn’t diagnosed or treated early enough, vision can be lost. Although glaucoma can affect anyone, it tends to impact people in their 70s and 80s the most. Many people living with glaucoma may experience little or no symptoms initially, which is why the condition is frequently diagnosed during routine eye tests. Symptoms can include blurred vision, and the condition tends to affect both eyes, though it may be more severe in one eye.

How quickly can glaucoma develop?

Sometimes glaucoma can develop very quickly. When this happens, you might experience vomiting and nausea, tenderness around your eyes, red eye, headaches and intense pain. Although it won’t be possible to reverse vision loss that occurs before diagnosis, you can take steps to prevent vision from worsening. There are also things you can do to try and prevent glaucoma from occurring in the first place, such as partaking in certain forms of exercise. Treatments can include laser treatments, which reduce the amount of fluid in the eyes, drops to reduce the pressure in the eyes and surgery to improve the way fluid is drained.

How exercise can help

Exercise can also play a big role in the battle against glaucoma. Making positive changes to your lifestyle can help you reduce the eye pressure that causes the condition. Studies suggest that exercise can change blood flow to the eyes and the pressure inside of them. People that run or jog at higher speeds and take more steps may be able to reduce the risk of glaucoma further than people who take fewer steps and exercise at a lower speed. Exercise can boost blood flow to the optic nerve and retina, but it’s very important to keep exercising – if you fail to get the workout you need for just three weeks, the benefits could be reversed.

Research on glaucoma and exercise

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been examining the health and status of North American adults since the 1960s. Researchers from UCLA took data from NHANES to assess the relationship between glaucoma and exercise. In this study, every 10-unit increase in steps taken per minute and walking speeds reduced the risk of glaucoma by 6%. Each 10-minute rise in moderate to vigorous activity reduced the risk by 25%.

Can exercise help with all forms of glaucoma?

It’s important to note that some forms of glaucoma are not responsive to exercise. These include closed-angle glaucoma, with people with forms of the condition like pigmentary glaucoma actually seeing a small rise in IOP (intraocular pressure) following vigorous exercise. If you are interested in reducing the risk of or slowing down glaucoma, consult your doctor or optometrist before you begin a new exercise regime.
For more advice about Glaucoma, please contact Gurjeet Jutley today.