Going for a run, or even a walk can improve your vision.
Cataracts
Cataracts are a disease that is common in people above the age of 40. Typically cataracts will affect both eyes, but it is possible that they only affect one eye at a time.
A cataract will cloud the lens of the eye as old protein cells begin to build up. What exactly causes these cells to build-up is not known. Experts can’t quite explain why the protein on the lens suddenly clumps together as we age, but they can all agree that it is one of the leading causes of blindness in old age.
The lens lies behind the pupil and the iris, so when a cataract is present, you will see a cloudy or grey spot forming in your iris (the colored part of the eye). This will cloud your central vision. In the early stages of the disease, you will experience glare in your vision. As the disease progresses, it can cause total vision loss.
Cataracts can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the level of sight you have left. When a cataract does not prevent you from living your day-to-day life due to poor vision, it can be corrected with a strong eyeglass prescription.
However, if you want to improve cataracts naturally, consider what you’re eating. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants will help to clear up your vision.
How Running Can Improve Vision and Reduce Your Risk of Cataracts
Running is a great way to stay in shape and a great way to get you outside and moving. Any cardiovascular exercise will help increase the blood flow to your optic nerve, which is essential to keeping your eyes young and healthy. Running is a great option to increase that blood flow over a sustained period of time.
Running isn’t easy for everyone. Some people have weak knees which make it difficult to run. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you’ll put yourself at risk. Walking can also reduce your risk of cataracts, but it won’t be as effective as running. Even light running will improve vision.
A study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience found a link between heightened vision and exercising. The study found that those who expended more energy seemed to have sharper vision.
Using neuroimaging techniques, the researchers behind the study were able to monitor the effects of exercising on the brain. What they found was that low and high-intensity exercise would boost activity in the visual cortex, which is the part of the brain that organizes and comprehends images our eyes send.
If you’ve been a little lazy on the exercising front lately or just don’t feel like exercising because you don’t need to lose weight, do it for your eyes. Ignite your visual cortex by going for a walk through the autumn leaves or a run through the woods.
