Physical activity, visual impairment, and eye disease

Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated physical activity is a strong factor in overall health and well-being, and a growing body of literature, reviewed herein, suggests that several eye conditions, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, are associated with lower activity levels. Likewise, physical activity levels are lower in persons with worse vision. Research in this area has utilized both self-reported physical activity measures as well as objective measures of activity (i.e., accelerometers), each of which have their own strengths and limitations. Putative mechanisms explaining the association of various eye conditions with physical activity are discussed. It is possible that activity restriction occurs as a downstream consequence of eye disease/visual impairment, that activity restriction causes eye disease/visual impairment, or that causality is bidirectional; evidence supporting each of these theories is put forth. An improved understanding of the relationship between physical activity and eye disease will highlight potential secondary health risks resulting from eye disease, and can help determine whether activity might serve as a readily available preventative measure to prevent specific eye conditions.

Modification of the Association between Visual Impairment and Mortality by Physical Activity: A Cohort Study among the Korean National Health Examinees

“…Although physical activity has been associated with overall health, well-being, and decreased mortality [29,30] and reportedly individuals with visual impairment and blindness have lower physical activity levels [19,31,32], to our knowledge, only one study investigated the interaction between visual impairment and physical activity on mortality [5]. In that study, conducted with a prospective cohort in Norway, the mortality risk for both visual impairment and no physical activity was much higher than the sum of the mortality risk for only visual impairment and the mortality risk for only no physical activity.…”

Low-Intensity Exercise in Mice Is Sufficient to Protect Retinal Function During Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration

“…Several studies suggest that increased physical activity is associated with reduced risk of development or progression of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy and that conversely reduced physical activity is associated with poorer outcomes in these disease groups (reviewed in Ref. 9). We find that increased physical activity is associated with greater self-reported visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa 10…”

Altered spontaneous brain activity patterns in diabetic patients with vitreous hemorrhage using amplitude of low‑frequency fluctuation: A resting‑state fMRI study

“…L (BA 18; t=5.0742). By contrast, the ALFF values of the following regions were decreased: ( 2 ) Middle frontal gyrus. L (BA 10; t=−6.5002), ( 4 ) medial frontal gyrus.…”

“…Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic metabolic disease with increasing prevalence worldwide ( 1 ). Diabetes mellitus may lead to eye disease and visual impairment as a result of abnormal blood vessels supplying oxygen and nutrients to the retina ( 2 ) Patients with diabetes occasionally develop fragile blood vessels in the retina that hemorrhage into the vitreous cavity of the orbit; a process termed vitreous hemorrhage (VH), which may lead to sudden severe loss of vision ( 3 ). VH is a sign of advanced diabetic eye disease ( 1 ); the incidence of VH is ~7 cases per 100,000 individuals worldwide and is one of the most common causes for the development of subacute or acute visual disorders ( 3 ).…”