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, a friend, relative or acquaintance suffers from glaucoma and is concerned
about falling or fear of falling, please
schedule an eye exam at
D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, or
facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.
D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout
greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts with office locations at 479
Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 865 Merriam Avenue, Suite
119, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton,
Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331, 74 Main
Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 and 255 Park Avenue, Suite 606, Worcester,
Massachusetts 01609
