Are people with cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or glaucoma at greater risk of falls and fractures? The answer to this question is YES.
Cataracts, the most common cause of vision problems, make the normally clear lens of the eye cloudy. AMD is a progressive disease that damages the macula, a part of the retina that helps you see what’s right in front of you. And glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in people over 60, is a group of conditions that damage an essential nerve in your eye.
Over a 13-year period, researchers examined the medical records of a group of patients who were, on average, around 74 years of age by the end of the study and found that the three diseases were almost equally culpable. The odds of falling were, on average, 33 percent higher among the vision impaired, as compared to those who didn’t have one of these eye diseases.
But there’s more at play. The study suggests that even relatively mild vision loss can affect balance, posture and gait, each of which is critical to avoiding falls.
That’s why it’s critical for people 65 and over to have a comprehensive eye exam every year or two, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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If you are 60+ and living in Marathon County who needs a ride to your next eye appointment, please give Faith in Action of Marathon County a call. Our phone number is 715-848-8783
Faith in Action of Marathon County 