Functional vision and falls in the elderly: a literature review

Ageing is an universal process. In association with this process, disabilitating events, mainly falls, may occur leading to health decline and autonomy and independence losses. Falls yield physical, emotional and social consequences; they have multifactorial etiology, being the reduction of functional vision a very important factor. The purpose of this literature review was to examine the correlation between deficits of functional vision and falls in the elderly, especially considering that they are neglected cause of falling. Evidences were search in the databases MedLine, SciELO, Lilacs and PEDro, and 16 papers were selected. The analyses of the evidences have shown that there is a positive correlation between deficits in functional vision, mainly visual acuity, and falls and/or other predictors such as deficits in postural stability and mobility. The literature points out that a simple identification and visual deficit correction and home environment modifications are interventions capable to prevent falls in elderly persons.