Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSFalls risk lowered by single lens glasses
Providing single lens distance glasses to older people instead of multifocal glasses is a simple and inexpensive way to cut falls in those who regularly take part in outdoor activities.
This was the result of a study by Australian researchers published in the BMJ online.
They said multifocal glasses have optical defects that can impair balance and cause falls.
Their study of 606 people found swapping multifocal glasses for single lens pairs cut falls by 40 per cent over 13 months in subjects who regularly went outdoors.
Use of single lens glasses did not reduce falls in more fragile older people or those who spent more time indoors.
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Readers' comments (4)
Sandra Joyce Powell | 30-May-2010 9:05 am
A great idea but for the confused patient it will be a bit of a problem ,do they have the ability to realise that they need to change glasses to read.
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µ | 30-May-2010 10:44 am
Whilst I agree that in extreme cases this may be useful you cant simply restrict freedom of the elderly even further by dictating to them what sort of glasses they should be wearing. It is extremely trying having to take glasses on and off according to different activities and remembering to always take the right ones everywhere you go every minute of the day. Bifocals for some were a great invention and it is up to the individual and not up to more public cost cutting savings. Go and look at some of the important and urgent issues in the NHS.
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Anonymous | 31-May-2010 11:00 am
Elderly people who are more prevelant to dibilitating eye conditions need to be aware of the need for separate pairs of specs which will not only reduce falls but also increase their field of vision for distance and near. Cost unfortunately is often the main problem but if a patient has dementia it can be very difficult for them to know which pair to wear.
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Anonymous | 2-Jun-2010 6:39 pm
careless writing above - careless nurse or lack of education?
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