Citation

Yip JL, Khawaja AP, Broadway D, Luben R, Hayat S, Dalzell N, Bhaniani A, Wareham N, Khaw KT, Foster PJ. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2014; 98(3): 377-382.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-304179

PMID

24338086

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between visual acuity (VA) and self-reported vision (SRV) in relation to falls in 8317 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk Eye study.

METHODS: All participants completed a health questionnaire that included a question regarding SRV and questions regarding the number of falls in the past year. Distance VA was measured using a logMAR chart for each eye. Poor SRV was defined as those reporting fair or poor distance vision. The relationship between VA and SRV and self-rated falls was analysed by logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, chronic disease, medication use and grip strength.

RESULTS: Of 8317 participants, 26.7% (95% CI 25.7% to 27.7%) had fallen in the past 12 months. Worse VA and poorer SRV were associated with one or more falls in multivariable analysis (OR for falls=1.31, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.66 and OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.61, respectively). Poorer SRV was significantly associated with falls even after adjusting for VA (OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.57).

CONCLUSIONS: SRV was associated with falls independently of VA and could be used as a simple proxy measure for other aspects of visual function to detect people requiring vision-related falls interventions.

Language: en