A New Method of Stair Markings for Visually Impaired People

Abstract

Falls on stairs are a major hazard for elderly persons who are visually impaired. Stair marking is critical in making travel on stairs safe. Two groups of subjects with distinctly different visual impairments—group 1 having cataracts with healthy maculas; group 2 having age-related maculopathy with very little or no cataract development—were assessed to determine preference between two methods of marking stairways. Subjects were exposed to two identical stairways, one marked with traditional horizontal contrasting stripes, the other with a new method of three vertical stripes. Findings show that the newer method was preferred, with group 2 having a higher preference rate than group 1.