Vision & Mobility

Research has indicated that visually impaired people have slower walking speeds, poorer balance, experience more falls and report greater mobility difficulty than non-visually impaired people¹.

The most common type of visual impairment is refractive error, which is a problem with the eye’s focusing ability and the most common reason why a person requires a pair of spectacles for clear vision. Another common cause of visual impairment is cataract, which is when the natural lens within the eye becomes cloudy and causes the vision to become correspondingly cloudy. Less common but more serious causes of visual impairment include macular degeneration and glaucoma. These conditions can result in visual field defects, which is when part of the visual field is reduced or missing. Macular degeneration typically affects the central vision and glaucoma affects the peripheral vision.

A regular eye examination with an Optometrist is the single most important thing that we can do to maintain good vision. Often the simplest solution to visual impairment is a pair of glasses or contact lenses to correct refractive error, although medication or surgical intervention may be required depending on the condition. Visual impairment isn’t always irreversible, which highlights the importance of regular eye examinations to help prevent damage before it’s too late. We can also keep our eyes healthy by protecting them from the sun with sunglasses and a hat and consuming a balanced diet including dark green
leafy vegetables, fish, fruit, and nuts. Smoking should be avoided as it increases the risk of cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration².

Our vision is important to us for many reasons and at all stages of our life. Staying on top of our eye health at a younger age gives us the best chance of preserving this precious sense for many years. Are you due for your next eye examination?