Articles about Eye Health and Disease from 2005
 

Falls and Health Status in Elderly Women following First Eye Cataract Surgery

(From British Journal of Ophthalmology 2005;89:53-59).

A third of elderly people fall each year. Poor vision is associated with increased risk of falls. The authors of this study aimed to determine if first eye cataract surgery reduces the risk of falling, and to measure associated health gain.

Methods: 306 women aged over 70, with cataract, were randomized to expedited (approximately 4 weeks) or routine (12 months wait) surgery. Falls were ascertained by diary, with follow up every 3 months. Health status was measured after 6 months.


Results: Visual function improved in the operated group (only 8% had acuity worse than 20/40 after surgery compared with 37% of controls). Over 12 months of follow up, 76 (49%) operated participants fell at least once, and 28 (18%) fell more than once.

69 (45%) unoperated participants fell at least once, 38 (25%) fell more than once. Rate of falling was reduced by 34% in the operated group (rate ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.96, p = 0.03). Activity, anxiety, depression, confidence, visual disability, and handicap all improved in the operated group compared with the control group. Four participants in the operated group had fractures (3%), compared with 12 (8%) in the control group (p = 0.04).

Conclusion: First eye cataract surgery reduces the rate of falling, and risk of fractures and improves visual function and general health status.




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