Aerobic exercise helps to lower eye pressure, a factor that could help slow the progression of glaucoma, a disease that affects one million people in Argentina.
Glaucoma is the main cause of irreversible blindness and rarely presents symptoms, so specialists recommend ophthalmological controls to prevent it, within the framework of World Glaucoma Day that is commemorated this Sunday, March 12.
It is estimated that in Argentina the pathology affects 2% of those over 40 years of age and between 6% and 8% of those over 80. For this reason, it is estimated that there are approximately one million people with this condition, although most ignore it due to the absence of symptoms.
Aerobic exercise helps lower eye pressure
The head of the Argentine Glaucoma Association, Marcos Geria, assured Télam that the practice of aerobic sports, such as walking, running or cycling tends to significantly decrease intraocular pressure, albeit temporarily, returning to initial values. about 40 minutes after finishing the activity.
It has been shown that people who exercise regularly maintain lower intraocular pressure values at rest than those who do not, which could help slow the progression of glaucoma.
However, not all exercises are advisable for patients with this pathology as many activities involve force and breath holding, which can increase intraocular pressure in the same way as some yoga postures in which the head is lowered a lot. or the use of swimming goggles that fit too close to the eye.
Of the total number of people suffering from glaucoma, 50% are underdiagnosed. It is a situation in which it is important to take measures as soon as possible to preserve the visual health and quality of life of the population.