The benefits of physical therapy eye exercises are unclear as experts have differing opinions. According to the Harvard Medical School, there are no benefits to eye exercises for macular degeneration while the American Vision Institute claims otherwise. Low vision devices have the most benefit for macular degeneration patients.
Identification
Macular degeneration is an eye disease that affects central vision and is most common for woman over 55 years of age. The macula is located at the center of the retina and allows fine details. The condition causes vision to gradually become blurry as time progresses. There are two forms of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Wet is advanced macular degeneration and occurs when abnormal leaky blood vessels grow under the macula and cause the macula to move from its normal location, according to the National Eye Institute. Dry occurs when light-sensitive cells of the macula break down causing blurring of the central vision. A person with dry macular degeneration will have difficulties recognizing faces, according to the National Eye Institute. You have a higher risk of developing the disease if you have an immediate family member with macular degeneration, are female, or are Caucasian.
Diagnoses and Treatment
To diagnose macular degeneration, an optometrist will dilate your eye to view the retina. Other tests will check your vision and your eye pressure. A dye may be injected into your arm so the dye can pass through the blood vessels of your retina to help your doctor determine the best course of treatment. If dry macular degeneration is determined, a diet rich in zinc, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E can help delay symptoms. If macular degeneration reaches advanced levels, nothing can be done for vision, according to the National Eye Institute. Laser surgery, eye injections and destruction of new blood vessels may help treat wet macular degeneration.
Lifestyle
Making changes to your lifestyle can help delay macular degeneration. Smoking cigarettes and being overweight raises your risk of macular degeneration. A healthy balanced diet will help you fight macular degeneration. Low vision rehabilitation can help you live a normal life with vision loss through the assistance of electronic aids, magnifying glasses, computer software programs and prescription eyewear, according to Rehabilitation Professional Journal. Telescopes and spectacles can also improve eyesight. Making changes in your environment and hiring someone to assist you can help if you have a more advanced case of macular degeneration.
Exercises
According to the American Vision Institute, eye exercises boost your blood circulation so the healing nutrients you ingest can travel the blood stream and reach the affected retina. An example of an eye exercise is to cover one eye with your hand and focus on an object. You can also focus on a group of objects in a certain order in order to work your eye muscles. However, taking visual breaks if you experience eye strain during close-up work is more effective than exercises, according to Harvard Medical School.
References
- National Eye Institute: Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Windsor, R.L. & Winsor, L.K. "Rehabilitation Professional Journal: Low Vision Rehabilitation: An Introduction"; Richard L. Windsor, O.D., F.A.A.O. Laura K. Windsor, O.D.; 2001
- Robert C. Cyrd Health Services Center: Macular Degeneration
- The Harvard Medical School: The Low Down on Eye Exercises
- American Vision Institute: Macular Degeneration and Eye Exercises
