This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Visual impairment affects balance and mobility in older adults with maculopathy
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50(1):482-487.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Visual impairment in older adults with age-related maculopathy correlated with posture and walking stability.
Study data showed an association between impaired contrast sensitivity and postural instability, slower gait, increased step width and reduced stride length. Impaired contrast sensitivity or visual field was linked to increased double-support time.
“This result suggests that loss of contrast sensitivity and visual fields in patients with [age-related maculopathy] can lead to balance and mobility problems,” the study said.
The study included 80 patients with a mean age of 77.2 years (range, 59 years to 95 years). Patients underwent assessment of lens opacification, binocular visual acuity, high-contrast visual acuity and visual fields. Postural stability and gait characteristics were also evaluated.
Data showed that contrast sensitivity was the only visual function measure strongly associated with poor balance and gait. The findings confirmed earlier studies showing contrast sensitivity to be the best indicator of gait adaptation.
“These findings suggest that eye care providers should be aware that increasing loss of contrast sensitivity and visual fields in their patients with [age-related maculopathy] may lead to difficulties in balance and mobility,” the study said.