Patients With Glaucoma Vision Loss Have Greater Fall Risk

Patients suffering from serious vision loss due to glaucoma could be at significantly higher risk of falling down frequently.

Patients suffering from serious vision loss due to glaucoma could be at significantly higher risk of falling down frequently, according to researchers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Among the 70 people who were part of the study, 40% claimed to have fallen badly, while 20% reported having repeated falls.

The strongest risk factor for falls was noted among glaucoma sufferers with more extensive loss in their lower peripheral vision.

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It has been advised that these patients should bring changes in surrounding factors like removing trip hazards and improving lighting at home and other places. Such patients must avoid being part of activities which could make them fall.

Dr. Alex Black from QUT's Faculty of Health said, "Armed with this knowledge we can move onto educating patients so they can better understand the extent of their vision loss and its ramifications on their day to day living."

The research has been published in the November issue of Optometry and Vision Science.

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Source-Medindia

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