title: Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in relation to falls in an elderly population.
abstract: Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured in 95 residents of a hostel for the aged (mean age = 83 years) using a dual-contrast letter chart and the Melbourne Edge Test (MET). Vision (as measured by visual acuity, the MET, low-contrast visual acuity, and difference between high- and low-contrast acuity) decreased significantly with age and all four measures were significantly correlated. Subjects with a clinical eye disorder had poorer vision than those without a disorder although the differences were not significant. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were not associated with body sway when subjects were standing on a firm base. However, when the subjects were placed in a situation which provided reduced support (standing on a compliant surface), body sway was associated with poor visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. There was also a difference in contrast sensitivity between those who fell one or more times in a year of follow-up and those who did not fall. It appears that reduced vision may be a predisposing factor to postural imbalance and falls in elderly persons.
authors.affiliation: School of Community Medicine, University of NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*