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Exercise Is Good For Your Eyes

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There are many advantages to exercise. Clearly exercising on a regular basis helps fight heart disease and you can offset the damages of diabetes. But there are also unexpected advantages of exercise.

According to a new report, people who exercise tend to have better vision. The overall healthy lifestyle helps the eyes. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin in Madison found that exercise and diet were linked to a lower risk of age-related degenerative changes in the eyes.

The biggest problem is age-related macular degeneration. As the population ages, the concern over age-related macular degeneration grows. This condition is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth by the retina and a breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the retina itself.

The greatest chance to avoid it according to the latest research is getting exercise and eating right and not smoking. Of course one of the major steps you can take is visiting your ophthalmologist on a regular basis.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor

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