Page 177 - July-August 2020

CAN EXERCISE PREVENT VISION LOSS?

As per a new study conducted
by the University of Virginia, School
of Medicine exercise can slow or
prevent the development of macular
degeneration (MD) and may also be
beneficial for other common causes
of vision loss, such as glaucoma and
diabetic retinopathy.
reporters ... and that can lead to The researchers have submitted
“There has long been a question conclusions that may or not be true. grant proposals and hope that they
about whether maintaining a This [study] offers hard evidence get funding so that they can pursue
healthy lifestyle can delay or prevent from the lab for very first time.” their findings further.
the development of MD. The way
that question has historically been An initial test comparing mice “The next step is to look at how
answered has been by taking that voluntarily exercised versus and why this happens, and to see
surveys of people, asking them those that did not found that if we can develop a pill or method
what they are eating and how much exercise reduced the blood vessel that will give you the benefits of
exercise they are performing,” said overgrowth by 45%. A second test, exercise without having to exercise,”
researcher Bradley Gelfand, PhD, of to confirm the findings, found a Gelfand said. “We’re talking about a
UVA’s Center for Advanced Vision reduction of 32%. Interestingly, fairly elderly population [of people
Science. “That is basically the most the research found that the bar for with MD], many of whom may not
sophisticated study that has been receiving the benefits from exercise be capable of conducting the type
done. The problem with that is that was relatively low – more exercise of exercise regimen that may be
people are notoriously bad self- did not mean more benefit. required to see some kind of benefit.”

EYECARE PRACTITIONERS JOIN ALL ABOUT

VISION INDIA

All About Vision, the leading eye director of Dr. Shroff’s Charity resource for ECPs and the public,”
health site in the United States, that Eye Hospital in New Delhi, who she added.
was founded 20 years ago to educate has joined All About Vision India’s
people about vision conditions such editorial advisory board, said, “All About Vision is a one-stop
as cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic “All About Vision has embarked solution for vision and eye care,” says
retinopathy etc has launched its first on providing the most credible Dr. Sivaraman Viswanathan, head
global site in India. information regarding eye care to of the optometry department of
Sankara Nethralaya since 2008 and
the masses, helping millions to be
India was chosen as All About a member of All About Vision India’s
Vision’s first international market to more aware of taking care of their editorial board. “Also, a layperson is
eyes. Awareness will empower
meet demand — outside the U.S., people with better knowledge to made to understand the information
India leads in visits to the All About make better choices regarding clearly, as complex technical
Vision U.S. site. With content in information has been made easy.”
English and Hindi, All About Vision’s preservation of their vision.” For eye care practitioners, the
India site recorded 24% traffic “India is so vast and eye health website can become a knowledge
growth and 4.6 million sessions since knowledge and awareness are hub to keep them updated about
it was first introduced in 2019. very poor,” says Professor Monica the best lenses and eye care. They
Eye care practitioners across Chaudhry, director of Ansal can turn to All About Vision India
India have hailed the new site as a University School of Health Sciences, for answers, whenever they have
partner in eye health education. and a member of All About Vision questions about vision conditions,
India’s editorial advisory board. “All eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact
Dr. Umang Mathur, executive About Vision India can be a good lenses, vision surgery and more.

| JULY-AUG 2020 | 173 NEWS IN BRIEF