As you get older there is more of a chance you will fall and poor eyesight has been linked as one of the reasons this happens.
It is normal for our eyes to change as we get older. Common changes include losing the ability to focus on things that are close-up (presbyopia), finding that it takes longer to adapt to changing lighting conditions and finding that we need more light to see things.
Aging means we are also more likely to develop eye disease. The most common eye diseases in older people are cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Having regular eye examinations will allow your optometrist to spot early signs of eye disease, when it is easier to treat. Most people should have an eye examination at least every two years, or sooner if you have been advised to do so.
Who is more likely to fall?
There are several reasons why people fall over which not all are related to poor eyesight. You are most at risk of falling if you:
- Are aged over 75
- Have fallen over before
- Have Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, Meniere’s disease or dementia
- Are taking sedatives, antidepressants or more than four prescription medicines a day
What you can do to reduce the chance of falling:
- Try to keep your eyes healthy, have regular checks.
- Have good lighting. We recommend having lamps close to where you need the light. For example, a lamp near the chair where you sit to read.
- Make sure you turn the lights on at home when it is dark so you can see where you are going when you move around.
- Make sure that your carpets are well fitted and do not have trip hazards, such as creases, in them. If you have a rug that is on a slippery floor, make sure that it does not slip or move when you walk on it.
- Be aware of stairs and kerbs. Hold onto rails where possible as reduced vision can impair your sense of depth perception.
- If you are dazzled by the sunshine when you are out, wear sunglasses that absorb the UV light or a hat with a brim to shield you from the sunlight.
- Be aware of your vision in each eye separately. Many conditions appear in one eye first. If you regularly check your vision (with glasses if you need them) by covering each eye in turn, you are more likely to notice changes. If you notice changes in your vision you should contact your optometrist for advice. Things you should look out for include straight lines, such as door or window frames, appearing distorted or wavy, or seeing blank or blurry spots in your vision.
Your Optometrist will tell you when there has been a big change to your prescription and may advise a modified version which may help with the adaptation. Wearing the new prescription at home first to get used to them is also sensible.
December 2019