Bifocals tripping up elderly people
15 November 2002
Australian researchers have recommended that elderly people use alternatives to bifocal spectacles when negotiating stairs or walking in unfamiliar environments, in light of new findings.
Researchers from the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute in Sydney found that elderly people wearing multifocal spectacles could fall because of difficulties seeing obstacles. In particular, they had problems perceiving depths and edges (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2002; 50: 1760-66).
For 12 months, the researchers followed 156 people aged between 63 and 90 years who were living in the community.
They found that people wearing multifocal spectacles were more than twice as likely to fall than those who did not wear multifocals.
Last Reviewed: 14 November 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 15/11/02
