Researchers recently reported that increased exercise intensity is associated with decreased glaucoma odds.

This retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluated 1,387 adults (older than 40) who filled out the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2006. A team assessed objective exercise intensity based on measurements from accelerometers worn by participants over one week and subjective exercise intensity based on questionnaire responses. They defined glaucoma based on Rotterdam criteria and ophthalmologist grading of optic disc photos.

The investigators found that 4.9% of the participants had glaucoma based on Rotterdam criteria and 0.5% had glaucoma based on disc image grading. Their findings translated to an estimated prevalence of glaucoma of 3.1% based on Rotterdam criteria and 0.3% based on disc image grading.

After adjusting for covariates, they discovered that each 10-count increase in accelerometer intensity was associated with decreased odds of glaucoma using both criteria. With Rotterdam criteria, they noted that participants who spent the day standing or walking vs. sitting had 58% decreased odds of glaucoma, while each 10-minute increase in moderate-to-vigorous activity per day was associated with 38% decreased odds of glaucoma with disc image grading. They added that, with disc image grading, participants who performed moderate amounts of vigorous activity had 95% decreased odds of glaucoma compared with those who performed no vigorous activity.