The visual field loss resulting from the progression
of glaucoma can pose a risk of falling to patients. Falling and the fear of
falling (FoF) is a significant risk to patients-especially seniors. Researchers
were interested in finding out more about how and when patients with visual
field damage from glaucoma were at risk of falling and thus reported on a study
in the American
Journal of Ophthalmology in
which they investigated where glaucoma patients most often fall and how
integrated visual field (IVF) damage affects falls rates per year (falls/year)
and per step (falls/step) at and away from home.
Their research conclusions for this glaucoma population suggested that a) most falls occurred at home, b) the risk of any step resulting in a fall was higher at home and c) those with greater visual field damage were more likely to fall for each step taken both at and away from home. Based on this, it is important to consider making efforts such as home environmental modification to prevent falls while maintaining physical activity.
If you are someone you know has glaucoma and has questions about risks, safety or has not had a recent eye exam please schedule an appointment at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or www.facebook.com/alabamaeyecataractcenter
Alabama Eye & Cataract Center is a leading eye care center in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine eye doctors and eye specialists.
