
Falls and visual problems
29 October 2019
Falls are a cause of morbidity and mortality in older people. According to WHO data, around 646,000 fatal falls occur annually worldwide, making falls the second leading cause of death from unintentional injury.
Poor vision is a risk factor for falling. Sometimes poor vision can be caused by:
• Cataracts: this is the name given to the lens - the natural lens that we have inside the eye - when it becomes opaque.
• Macular degeneration: it is a problem in the retina (layer of nerve cells that line the back wall inside the eye). It occurs when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged.
• Diabetic retinopathy: occurs when high levels of sugar in the blood cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina.
• Other visual conditions.
It is recommended to visit the ophthalmologist at least once a year to check vision, especially the fundus, intraocular pressure and lens.