For elderly people who have vision problems, simple actions of everyday life can become a real ordeal. Difficult to cook, read or watch TV. Almost half of seniors with visual impairments would limit their activities because they are afraid of falling. This is the conclusion of a new study from the ophthalmology clinic of Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
The researchers compared 345 patients: 93 patients with Macular degeneration (AMD), 57 with corneal dystrophy, 98 with glaucoma and 97 patients who had no vision problem.
AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people 50 and over. This degeneration makes it difficult to clearly distinguish objects that are close in front of you.
Corneal dystrophy is a disease that affects the cornea of the eye and clouded vision.
Glaucoma is a pathology of the optic nerve that causes a gradual decrease in vision.
Visual impairment: risk of depression
Between 40 and 50% of vision impaired patients reported difficulty performing certain activities for fear of falling. People with corneal dystrophy were the most likely to restrict their activities.
The study adds that women are the most likely to restrict their activities because of their poor vision. They were also more prone to depression and illness.
The study concludes with a warning to families of the elderly who suffer from blurred vision. They are more likely than others to isolate themselves.
