The Influence of Vision on Balance, Gait and Falls

Cataract Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Effect of Cataract Surgery on Gait, Balance and Falls in Older Persons

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00218894
• Other study ID #: 196-03
• Secondary ID: Helse Midt-Norge
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: September 20, 2005
• Last updated: January 16, 2017
• Start date: January 2004
• Est. completion date: December 2009

Study information

• Verified date: January 2017
• Source: Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial 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.

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

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 148
• Est. completion date: December 2009
• Est. primary completion date: March 2008
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 70 Years and older

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cataract

Intervention

Procedure:
• Cataract surgery
surgery one one or two eyes by use of two different types of lenses and correcting for refraction

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Norway	Section of Geriatric Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital	Trondheim

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Norwegian University of Science and Technology	Helse Midt-Norge

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Norway, 

References & Publications (1)

Helbostad JL, Oedegaard M, Lamb SE, Delbaere K, Lord SR, Sletvold O. Change in vision, visual disability, and health after cataract surgery. Optom Vis Sci. 2013 Apr;90(4):392-9. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0b013e3182843f16. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Falls		over one year
Primary	Visual function		pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and 1 year post surgery
Secondary	Health related Quality of Life		pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery
Secondary	Gait		pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery
Secondary	Fear of falling		pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery