Does Exercising Only on Weekends Protect the Eyes from Aging?
Age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma affect millions of people and can lead to irreversible vision loss. A major recent study shows that it is not always necessary to engage in regular physical activity throughout the week to reduce these risks. Concentrating workouts on one or two days, as weekend warriors do, provides comparable benefits to a more spread-out practice.
Researchers followed over 86,000 healthy British adults for nearly eight years, using wrist-worn sensors to accurately measure their activity levels. Participants were divided into three groups: those who did not get enough exercise, those who met the recommendations by exercising mainly on weekends, and those who spread their activity over several days. The results reveal that weekend warriors reduced their risk of cataracts by 11% compared to sedentary individuals, a benefit nearly identical to that observed in regularly active people. For macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, risk reductions were 15% and 26%, respectively, but only for those who achieved at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week.
When the goal was set at 300 minutes per week, weekend warriors continued to benefit from their practice. Their risk of cataracts decreased by 9%, and their risk of glaucoma by 14%, while regularly active individuals showed no further significant advantage for these diseases. These findings suggest that the intensity and concentration of effort may play a key role, possibly by improving blood circulation in the eye or reducing oxidative stress that accelerates the aging of ocular tissues.
Men appeared to be particularly protected against glaucoma through this mode of exercise, unlike women. Researchers hypothesize that hormonal differences might explain this disparity, as estrogen provides natural protection for women. However, this theory still needs to be confirmed.
This reassuring study indicates that even with a busy schedule, it is possible to preserve eye health by reserving workouts for one or two days a week. It also paves the way for more flexible recommendations, tailored to the constraints of modern life. The important thing is to move enough, regardless of how it is spread throughout the week.
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About This Study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40662-026-00480-6
Title: Accelerometer-derived “weekend warrior” physical activity pattern and risk of age-related eye diseases: a prospective cohort study
Journal: Eye and Vision
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Authors: Yuze Mi; Jiahui Zong; Shangdong Wang; Qinnan Zhu; Shaokai Lin; Xinni Zheng; Yanggang Hong; Jiawei Zhou; Liang Ye