Online Program

338578
What role vision plays in Falls among older adults


Monday, November 2, 2015

Satya Verma, OD, FAAO, FNAP, Assistant Director, Externship Program, Salus University/ Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Elkins Park, PA
Falls among elderly are very common.  They impact the quality of life, result in chronic disabilities and a huge burden on health care delivery and costs. Falls are multifactorial and vision is just one of them.  This presentaion will decribe role Vision plays (not 20/20) in falls.  It is more than visual acuity. It is over all visual efficiency that includes, visual acuity, depth perception, visual fields, color perception, contrast sensitivity, and overall quality of vision.  All these factors are affected by normal aging process and are compounded in the presence of other eye diseases.  The presentation will discuss impact of aging on these factors, and overall impact on falls.  Prevention strategies to reduce falls caused by vision will be discussed.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Explain the role of "Vision" that goes beyond seeing Describe all the parameters that make up vision and are impacted by aging Analyze environmental factors playing role in good vision and falls prevention Discuss preventive measures in falls prevention

Keyword(s): Aging, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am faculty member teaching geriatric optometry for over 30 years. I have served on the Board of National Council on Aging. Currently I serve on the board of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging and a member of Aging and Public health and have been a reviewer for proposal at APHA and ASA
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3112.0: Poster Session