Multifocal Glasses Reduce Accidents


Wearing multifocal glasses could reduce the risk of falling in elderly people, researchers claim. A report published in the British Medical Journal suggests that wearing single lens distance glasses could reduce the likelihood of older people falling by up to 40%. the researchers claim that the findings are particularly relevant for individuals suffering from presbyopia - an eye condition that worsens with age and impairs the ability to focus on nearby objects.

Researchers in Australia reached their conclusions by studying the well being of 606 individuals aged over 65 years old who had an established history of falling regularly. Half of the study's participants were given single lens distance glasses and fall prevention advice. Researchers found that patients who had been given the glasses were more than three times less likely to fall and injure themselves than their counterparts who had not been given glasses.

The researchers now recommend that elderly people who are largely inactive should be issued with multi-focal lenses whilst their more active counterparts should also be supplied with single lens distance glasses. It is hoped that this would prevent more falls as increasingly active individuals are more likely to fall during the course of an activity than sedentary older people.

Researchers hope that their findings will encourage physicians to place more importance on addressing and treating vision problems when looking to prevent falls in frailer patients who are at increased risk of falling and badly injuring themselves.

27th May 2010

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