Gurjeet Jutley

Reducing the risk of falls for people with glaucoma involves a number of different strategies. These include prompt diagnosis and treatment, regular testing and a multi-disciplinary approach to care, in order to initiate changes to help with lifestyle modification. The aim throughout should be to reduce the risk of the patient falling while ensuring that they are still able to lead as full and independent a life as possible. In this article, Gurjeet Jutley looks at some of the key fall risks for people with sight loss caused by glaucoma.   Fall risks for people with sight loss The onset of sight loss caused by glaucoma can increase the risk of falls in and outside of the home. Studies have suggested the most common place patients are likely to fall is the bathroom and the garden. Alarmingly, patients are more likely to fall in their own homes as opposed to inside other buildings. Depending on the visual field deficit, specific risk areas to be wary off are: Stairs A significant nu...