New research shows cataract surgery reduces number of falls in older patients

New research finds that cataract surgery dramatically decreases the number of falls individuals suffer due to poor vision. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

In a study of more than 400 Vietnamese patients who were 50-plus years old with cataracts in both eyes, the number of falls patients suffered before and after cataract surgery was monitored. Researchers found a 78% decrease in the risk of falls the year after patients had cataract surgery on one eye.

A cataract, which develops when the part of the eye known as the lens becomes cloudy, is a common eye condition in senior citizens that leads to dull or blurry vision.