Citation

Popescu ML, Boisjoly H, Schmaltz H, Kergoat MJ, Rousseau J, Moghadaszadeh S, Djafari F, Freeman EE. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2011; 52(10): 7168-7174.

Affiliation

Centre de Recherche, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, Canada;

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)

DOI

10.1167/iovs.11-7564

PMID

21862652

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the extent of mobility limitations in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, or Fuchs corneal dystrophy as compared to a control group of older adults with good vision. Methods: We recruited 272 patients (68 with AMD, 49 with Fuchs, 82 with glaucoma, and 73 controls) from the ophthalmology clinics of Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (Montreal, Canada) to participate in a cross-sectional study from September 2009 until February 2011. Control patients who had normal visual acuity and visual field were recruited from the same clinics. Questionnaire (life space, falls, driving) and performance-based (one-legged balance test, timed Up and Go (TUG) test) mobility data were collected, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and visual field were measured, and the medical record was reviewed. Results: The three eye diseases were associated with different patterns of mobility limitations. Patients with glaucoma had the most types of mobility limitations as they had reduced life space scores, had worse TUG scores, were less likely to drive, and were more likely to have poor balance than the control group (P<0.05). Compared to controls, patients with AMD and Fuchs corneal dystrophy had reduced life space scores and were less likely to drive (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that eye diseases, especially glaucoma, restrain the mobility of older people in many different ways. It is important to further explore the impact of eye disease on mobility in this population in order to develop interventions that could help affected older adults maintain their independence.

Language: en