How does sport affect my eyesight? Not everyone can participate

Often people with poor eyesight refuse to exercise, fearing to harm themselves even more. But some people believe that physical activity, on the contrary, can restore the health of the eyes and bring back ideal performance. Igor Aznauryan, pediatric ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor and founder of Yasniy Vzor children’s eye clinics, tells us whether this is actually true and what kinds of sports can be practiced even with “minus”.

Does sport affect the health of the organs of vision?

Physical activity not only strengthens the body, makes it stronger and more enduring, but also improves blood circulation in the body. This leads to oxygenation of the body, an increase in blood pressure and the release of adrenaline. As a result, the vital tonus increases, smoothing out the effects of stress and prolonged tension that we experience during the day.

Sport is a good preventive measure and an opportunity to strengthen and improve visual functions. The main thing is that physical activity should be moderate. If the disease has already been diagnosed, it is worthwhile to take a more responsible approach to the choice of sports.

What should not be done with poor eyesight?

If you have problems with vision, it is worth excluding contact sports. In the case of a brain injury, the retina can rupture or detach. The same can happen if you lift heavy weights. Therefore, strength training should be approached with extreme caution.

If you have an eye pathology, try not to engage in:

• wrestling;
• basketball;
• volleyball;
• big tennis;
• soccer;
• snowboarding.

If visual disturbances are severe, it is worth avoiding activities with pressure fluctuations. These include:

• diving;
• mountaineering;
• hang gliding;
• parachute jumping.

What sports are optimal for poor eyesight?

With poor eyesight, it is better to give preference to running, swimming, walking, yoga, gymnastics and cycling. During such activity, the heart rate does not rise sharply, and the load on the body is relatively low. Such activities allow you to relax and rest, and also have no age and professional restrictions.

You can perfectly train the eye muscles if you play ball or badminton. Concentrating on an object – a ball or shuttlecock – allows you to alternately relax and tense your eyes.

If you swim in a pool and wear contact lenses, remove them for the duration of the activity. The germs that inhabit the water can cause infection. It is better to use swimming goggles with diopters.

When skiing, try to protect your eyes as much as possible with a mask. So you will keep them from branches, and scorching sunlight and precipitation will not distract from your favorite pastime. If you ride on a sunny day, the lenses should cut off at least 95% of ultraviolet rays. Even in foggy weather and snowfall, you can burn your retinas, so don’t neglect safety measures.

Children who play sports professionally can wear special night lenses. It is not necessary to put them on during the day – the correction takes place at night.

If you feel uncomfortable when playing sports with glasses or lenses, pay attention to laser vision correction, which I advise both adults and children. Before laser vision correction, as well as before any surgical intervention, it is necessary to undergo a complete medical examination.

If you have vision problems, you should approach sports more responsibly. Be sure to talk to your doctor and undergo an examination. It will show whether you have contraindications, whether they are absolute or relative (i.e. temporary). Find out what kind of sport is suitable for you.

Remember that even ordinary walks in the fresh air will improve health in general and eyes in particular. A sedentary lifestyle is accompanied by a slowing down of the blood supply, including the organs of vision. As a result, this leads to a drop in vision. Sport has a significant impact on the condition of the eyes, but with a competent approach it will be extremely positive.