Cataract
Conditions
Keywords
Effect, Balance, Gait, Falls
Brief summary
Falls are the most serious and frequent home accident amongst elderly. Most falls occur during walking. Vision is reduced with ageing and visual impairments affect balance. Uncorrected visual deficits and balance problems are reported to be risk factors for falls and fall related fractures. The present project uses a longitudinal design and aims at assessing the impact of cataract surgery on balance and gait as risk factors for falls.
Detailed description
A longitudinal design is used, where subjects referred to the Cataract Unit are tested 1-3 weeks in advance of the surgery, and 4-6 weeks and 12 months after the surgery. Outcome measures are visual function, falls, balance and gait. Secondary outcome is quality of life, fear of falling and daily life functioning
Interventions
PROCEDURECataract surgery
surgery one one or two eyes by use of two different types of lenses and correcting for refraction
Sponsors
Helse Midt-Norge
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* \>70 years of age * referred to cataract surgery on one or both eyes * able to walk unassisted at least 10 m
Exclusion criteria
* terminal illness * have undergone orthopedic surgery in the lower limbs the last 12 months * Have had a stroke last 12 months * dementia (measured by MMSE \<20
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Falls | over one year |
| Visual function | pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and 1 year post surgery |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Health related Quality of Life | pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery |
| Gait | pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery |
| Fear of falling | pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery |
Countries
Norway
Outcome results
None listed