A recent study found an increase in fall-related eye injuries, and experts suspect that common vision conditions like cataracts and glaucoma may be to blame. But Dr. Raymond Stein and the team at Bochner Eye Institute believe that some of these falls and injuries can be prevented by taking proactive measures.
Nearly 1 Million People Admitted to the Hospital Had Eye Trauma
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed 13 years’ worth of data from the National Inpatient Sample and made two important discoveries:
- Almost a million people admitted to the hospital had primary or secondary eye injuries.
- Hospitalizations of people who had eye trauma (whether it was the primary injury or not) increased by 18 percent.
Although the data showed that the number of people admitted to the hospital primarily due to an eye injury decreased, the number of people that were admitted for another injury but also suffered an eye injury (i.e., a secondary eye injury) increased by 31 percent. The research team believes that 82 percent of that increase was because of falls in an aging population.
As people live longer and the aging population is more mobile, the number of falls is increasing — and, the number of fall-induced eye injuries (e.g., fracture of the bone in the eye socket, black eye, eyelid/tear gland damage) is also steadily rising.
Experts believe that limited vision from cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration is to blame for many of these falls.
Cataracts causes blurry vision, dull/faded colors and other visual disturbances. Glaucoma leads to the loss of peripheral vision, which can put someone at risk of bumping into furniture or another object in their side vision. Macular degeneration causes central vision to deteriorate, which in turn can lead those affected to trip over objects in their central line of sight.
Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Falling and Injuring Yourself
One of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of falling and injuring yourself is to see an eye doctor annually for a comprehensive eye exam. During the eye exam, your doctor will look for signs of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration or other problems that threaten your vision. These exams are also a good opportunity to ensure your vision prescription is up to date.
Other steps you can take to reduce your risk of falling include:
- Wear well-fitting, supportive footwear
- Remove clutter in your living space that you could accidentally trip over
- Have your furniture rearranged to create wider walking paths
- Keep your home brightly lit
- Use a rug pad or double-sided tape to keep small throw rugs in place
- Use a non-slip mat in your bathroom floors, shower or tub
- Exercise regularly to improve your strength and balance
- Seriously consider cataract surgery if experiencing vision loss due to cataracts
To learn more about cataracts, glaucoma and other age-related diseases that threaten your vision, please contact the Bochner Eye Institute at our Toronto office today.