The Role of Home Hazards in the Association Between Visual Function and Falls in Older Adults

Do home environment hazards modify the association between falls and visual function among older adults (65 years and older)?Using nationally representative data from 4648 older adults in the US, this cross-sectional study found that the association between falls and visual function (measured by distance visual acuity and contrast sensitivity) was confined to those living in homes with environmental hazards. The presence of multiple hazards further potentiated this association.Findings have implications for planning and delivering fall-prevention interventions; targeting home adaptations and modifications to older adults with poor vision might help decrease fall risk.

Corresponding Author: Joshua R. Ehrlich, MD, MPH, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, 1000 Wall St, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (joshre@umich.edu).

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