Vision

Vision

Good eyesight is important for mobility, balance and negotiating obstacles within the environment.

You may not notice that your vision is changing but, as we age we become less able to adapt to changes in light and darkness, to tell colours apart and to accurately see depth and distance. This can cause problems with bifocals / varifocals, even if they have been worn for years so if you do wear this kind of lens, take care on steps, stairs and patterned or uneven surfaces.

The older we get, the more common eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration become but, with 70% of visual problems being correctable, it is extremely important to ensure that you have regular eye tests. Remember that eye tests are free if you are 60 or over and many opticians can visit you at home if you are unable to go out and about.

It is important to tell your optician if you are worried about falling or if you have fallen over. They may can take this into consideration when reviewing your treatment plan.

Further Information

Further information can be found here:

NHS eye health advice

Age UK eye health advice

Find an optician

Royal National Institute of Blind People