The Influence of Vision on Balance, Gait and Falls

Completed

• Conditions: Cataract
• Interventions: Procedure: Cataract surgery

• Registration Number: NCT00218894
• Lead Sponsor: Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-01
• Study First Submitted: 2005-09-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2005-09-20
• Study First Posted: 2005-09-22
• Primary Completion: 2008-03
• Study Completion: 2009-12
• Status Verified: 2017-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-01-16
• Last Update Posted: 2017-01-18

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 148

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
post cataract surgery	Cataract surgery	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Falls	over one year
Visual function	pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and 1 year post surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
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

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Section of Geriatric Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital; 🇳🇴 Trondheim, Norway