For elderly people who have vision problems, simple gestures of daily life can become a real ordeal. Difficult to cook, read or watch TV. Nearly half of visually impaired seniors would limit their activities because they are afraid of falling. This is the conclusion of a new study from the ophthalmology clinic at 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 sight problem.
AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people aged 50 and over. This degeneration makes it difficult to clearly distinguish close objects in front of you.
Corneal dystrophy is a disease that affects the cornea of the eye and clouds vision.
Glaucoma is a pathology of the optic nerve that causes progressive loss of vision.
Visual impairment: risk of depression
Between 40 and 50% of patients with vision problems reported difficulty in performing certain activities for fear of falling. People with corneal dystrophy were most likely to restrict their activities.
The study adds that these are the women most likely to restrict their activities because of their impaired vision. They were also more prone to depression and illness.
The study concludes with a warning to families of elderly people who suffer from impaired vision. They would be more likely than others to isolate themselves.
