Study on the Visual Acuity and Balance Ability in the Elderly without Visual Field Defects

Abstract

Purpose : The study was aimed to investigate the effects of visual acuity on the balance ability in the elderly who were at a higher risk of the falls, based on the intimate connection between reduction of balance ability and falls. Methods : Twenty-four elderly subjects without visual field defect (4 males and 20 females, aged 74.79±4.85 in average) voluntarily took part in the study at the S Welfare Center in Seongnam City. The visual field and visual acuity under the low and high contrast were measured with OPTOS and ETDRS (Early Treatment Dia-betical Retinopath Study) charts, recpectively. The balance was identified by the Tetra-ataxiometric posturography (Tetrax) program to evaluate the stability index, Fourier index and weight distribution rate. The correlation of the visual acuity with balance ability was analized by the SPSS 26.0 program. Results : In the NO and PO positions related to vision, the high contrast visual acuity showed a significant correlation with the Fourier Index (F6~F8), while the low contrast visual acuity showed significant correlations with the Fourier Index (F6) and stability index (p＜0.050). The lower the high and low contrast visual acuity were, the worse the stability index and the Fourier index the lower the balance ability were. Conclusion : The decrease in vision resulted in reducing the balance ability in the elderly without visual field defect. Therefore, it is thought to be needed regular checkup of visual acuity and the correction to decrease falling risk.