Removing eyeglasses during outdoor activities may prevent falls in elderly

May 26, 2010

A new study suggests that elderly individuals who wear bifocal or multifocal eyeglasses should switch to single-vision eyeglasses when partaking in outdoor activities, reports U.S. News & World Report.

As we age, eye health problems become more common. Elderly people may use multifocal lenses, which include bifocals and trifocals, instead of using more than one pair of glasses depending on their situation. New research has found that multifocal lenses may throw off our balance which can lead to an increase in accidents and falls, according to the news source.

The researchers recruited 606 people over the age of 65 who were considered to be at risk of falling. Half of the participants were prescribed single lens eyeglasses. These individuals were eight percent less likely to fall than those with multi-focal lenses.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends an annual eye exam for individuals over the age of 60. As we grow older we are more likely to encounter vision problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. The earlier a condition is diagnosed the better treatment options will be.