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 or someone you know is
concerned about limited mobility and has a fear of falling as a result of
visual field loss from glaucoma please be sure to schedule an eye exam at The
Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center, or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an
appointment.
The Eye Care & Surgery Center is an affiliate of Prism Vision Group
and is located at 592
Springfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren,
New Jersey 07059 and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout
central and northern New Jersey.
