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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00218894

The Influence of Vision on Balance, Gait and Falls

Falls are the most serious and frequent home accident amongst elderly. Most falls occur during walking. Vision is reduced with ageing and visual impairments affect balance. Uncorrected visual deficits and balance problems are reported to be risk factors for falls and fall related fractures. The present project uses a longitudinal design and aims at assessing the impact of cataract surgery on balance and gait as risk factors for falls.

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Key information

Conditions

Cataract Eye Diseases Lens Diseases

Age range

70 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Section of Geriatric Medicine, St. Olavs University Hospital

Trondheim, N-7016, Norway

About this study

A longitudinal design is used, where subjects referred to the Cataract Unit are tested 1-3 weeks in advance of the surgery, and 4-6 weeks and 12 months after the surgery. Outcome measures are visual function, falls, balance and gait. Secondary outcome is quality of life, fear of falling and daily life functioning

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • >70 years of age
  • referred to cataract surgery on one or both eyes
  • able to walk unassisted at least 10 m

Exclusion criteria

  • terminal illness
  • have undergone orthopedic surgery in the lower limbs the last 12 months
  • Have had a stroke last 12 months
  • dementia (measured by MMSE <20

Treatment and study plan

cataract surgery

Procedure

surgery one one or two eyes by use of two different types of lenses and correcting for refraction

Primary outcomes

  1. Falls

    Time frame: over one year

  2. Visual function

    Time frame: pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and 1 year post surgery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Health related Quality of Life

    Time frame: pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery

  2. Gait

    Time frame: pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery

  3. Fear of falling

    Time frame: pre surgery, 6-9 weeks and one year after surgery

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Other

Collaborators

  • Helse Midt-Norge

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Cataract Surgery on Gait, Balance and Falls in Older Persons

Important dates

Study start
2004
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2009
First posted
Sep 22, 2005
Registry last updated
Jan 18, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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