Abstract
Regular exercise is a healthy lifestyle Choice with numerous benefits to general health. Ophthalmologists may face questions of the benefits or risks of exercise to eyes. Here the effects of acute exertion and regular physical activity oil ocular physiology and disease are reviewed. Intraocular pressure is transiently reduced by dynamic exercise. For the great majority of patients exercise is beneficial to the eves by reducing risk of central retinal occlusion and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, and by improving Control of systemic hypertension and diabetes. Ophthalmologists should be. advocates of regular exercise with appropriate eye protection. (Surv Ophthalmol 54:349-355, 2009. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)