Falls reported weekly on a calendar posted every 3 mo. Alternatively reported by telephone.
3 yrs
Integrated contrast sensitivity (HR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.03–2.29) and low-frequency contrast sensitivity (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.11–2.48) risk factors for recurrent falling after adjustment for confounders. Subjective visual acuity impairment not a risk factor
Questions about falling during past 12 mo made 5 years after ophthalmic examination,
1 yr
Poor best-corrected monocular visual acuity, poor contrast sensitivity, and discrepant vision associated statistically significantly with 2 or more falls () after controlling for age
Severe binocular visual field loss associated with recurrent falls after adjusting for age, study site, and cognitive function (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.11–2.02). No association between contrast sensitivity or visual acuity and recurrent falls when adjusted for age, study site, and cognitive function
Declining visual acuity a risk factor for frequent falling. ORs after adjustment for baseline visual acuity and other confounders 2.08 (95% CI = 1.39–3.12) for loss of 1 to 5 letters using Bailey-Lovie chart, 1.85 (95% CI = 1.16−2.95) for loss of 6−10 letters, 2.51 (95% CI = 1.39–4.52) for loss of 11–15 letters, and 2.08 (95% CI = 1.01–4.30) for loss of >15 letters. Cataract, glaucoma, and retinal diseases not risk factors for recurrent falls
Questions: “Did you fall >4 times in the past 2 years?” Asked 3 yrs after ophthalmic examination
2 yrs
Unilateral and bilateral visual field losses (VFLs) associated with a 6-fold risk of recurrent falls. 0.55% of participants with no VFL were recurrent fallers compared to 3.4% of participants with unilateral VFL () or 3.4% of participants with bilateral VFL () (adjusted for age, sex, and moderate/severe disability). Association remained after adjustment for visual acuity
Decreased depth perception an independent predictor for 3 falls after adjustment (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1–4.2). Decreased visual acuity, visual field loss, or poor contrast sensitivity not associated with multiple falls.
Falls recorded on a posted questionnaire every 2 mo
1 yr
After controlling for age, there was a difference in low contrast visual acuity () and contrast sensitivity () between nonmultiple fallers and multiple fallers. High contrast visual acuity not a significant risk factor for falls.
Questionnaires about falls given monthly Nursing staff hold fall record book
1 yr
Visual field defects, cataract, retinopathy, or degeneration no risk factors for multiple. Impaired visual acuity more common in multiple fallers (RR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.06–3.03, unadjusted).
Falls recorded monthly with questionnaire and fall record book of staff.
1 yr
Multiple fallers had poorer contrast sensitivity (, adjusted for age) than nonmultiple fallers. No difference in best-corrected visual acuity after controlling for age between multiple fallers and nonmultiple fallers.
The staff reported falls by a postal diary after each fall. Medical records were checked.
2 yrs The population examined half-way through followup
An ophthalmic disease (asked by a postal questionnaire, nursing staff helped participants) an independent risk factor for recurrent falls (, 95% Cl = 1.33–33.4) in a logistic regression analysis.
Participants were asked about all falls during the previous 12 mo.
1 yr retrospectively
Poor visual acuity wearing current glasses (prevalence ratio , 95% CI = 1.2–3.0 after adjustment for confounders), poor contrast sensitivity (, 95% CI = 1.1–1.3), and visual field loss (, 95% CI = 1.0–2.3) associated with recurrent falls. Being unable to recognize a face across the street, see the TV, or read a newspaper were not significant risk factors after controlling for confounders. Posterior subcapsular cataract (, 95% CI = 1.0–4.3) was associated with recurrent falls, but age-related macular degeneration, DM retinopathy, glaucoma, and cortical or nuclear cataract were not.