The sample consisted of 64 patients with glaucoma, 60 with age-related macular degeneration, and 60 controls. All groups were matched by age, gender, ethnic distribution, and comorbidities. The ABC Scale score was 63.1 (25.9) in the glaucoma group, 69.5 (16.4) in the age-related macular degeneration group, and 95.3 (9.1) for the controls (P < 0.001; Hedges’ g −1.65 and −1.93, large effect size); glaucoma patients score did not differ from age-related macular degeneration patients (P = 0.132; Hedges’ g 0.30, small effect size).
Conclusion
Both glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration patients reported lower balance-confidence in performing daily activities without losing balance as compared to controls.
MorelandJDRichardsonJAGoldsmithCH, et al.Muscle weakness and falls in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc2004; 52: 1121–1129.
2.
LeveilleSGBeanJBandeen-RocheK, et al.Musculoskeletal pain and risk for falls in older disabled women living in the community. J Am Geriatr Soc2002; 50: 671–678.
3.
CahillMTBanksADStinnettSS, et al.Vision-related quality of life in patients with bilateral severe age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmol2005; 112: 152–158.
4.
GutierrezPWilsonMRJohnsonC, et al.Influence of glaucomatous visual field loss on health-related quality of life. Arch Ophthalmol1997; 115: 777–784.
WongWLSuXLiX, et al.Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health2014; 2: e106–e116.
7.
ThamYCLiXWongTY, et al.Global prevalence of glaucoma and projections of glaucoma burden through 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmol2014; 121: 2081–2090.
8.
WeinrebRNAungTMedeirosFA. The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: a review. JAMA2014; 311: 1901–1911.
9.
RamuluP. Glaucoma and disability: which tasks are affected, and at what stage of disease?Curr Opin Ophthalmol2009; 20: 92–98.
10.
BerdeauxGHNordmannJPColinE, et al.Vision-related quality of life in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol2005; 139: 271–279.
11.
CongdonNO'ColmainBKlaverCC, et al.Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol2004; 122: 477–485.
12.
MackenziePJChangTSScottIU, et al.Assessment of vision-related function in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmol2002; 109: 720–729.
13.
KotechaAChopraRFahyRT, et al.Dual tasking and balance in those with central and peripheral vision loss. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci2013; 54: 5408–5415.
14.
UrataCNMazzoliLSKasaharaN. A comparative analysis of the fear of falling between glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration patients from a developing country. Trans Vis Sci Tech2018; 7: 17.
15.
MangioneCMGutierrezPRLoweG, et al.Influence of age-related maculopathy on visual functioning and health-related quality of life. Am J Ophthalmol1999; 128: 45–53.
16.
PowellLEMyersAM. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. J Gerontol Med Sci1995; 50A: M28–M34.
17.
MyersAMFletcherPCMyersAN, et al.Discriminative and evaluative properties of the ABC Scale. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci1998; 53A: M287–M294.
18.
MarquesAPMendesYCTaddeiU, et al.Brazilian-Portuguese translation and cross cultural adaptation of the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale. Braz J Phys Ther2013; 17: 170–178.
19.
LajoieYGallagherSP. Predicting falls within the elderly community: comparison of postural sway, reaction time, the Berg balance scale and ABC scale for comparing fallers and non-fallers. Arch Gerontol Geriatr2004; 38: 11–26.
20.
YuMSChanCCTsimRK. Usefulness of the Elderly Mobility Scale for classifying residential placements. Clin.Rehabil2007; 21: 1114–1120.
21.
MurphyCKapustaMOverburyO. The influence of fixation stability on balance in central vision loss. Vis Rehab Inte2019; 10: 1–9.
22.
van NispenRMVirgiliGHoebenM, et al.Low vision rehabilitation for better quality of life in visually impaired adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2020; 1: CD006543.
23.
LiuCJChangMC. Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve performance of daily activities for older adults with low vision: a systematic review. Am J Occup Ther2020; 74: 7401185010p1–7401185010p18.
24.
SenraHMacedoAFNunesN, et al.Psychological and psychosocial interventions for depression and anxiety in patients with age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry2019; 27: 755–773.
25.
de Negreiros CabralKPerraciniMRSoaresAT, et al.Effectiveness of a multifactorial falls prevention program in community-dwelling older people when compared to usual care: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (Prevquedas Brazil). BMC Geriatr2013; 13: 27.
26.
GasparottoLPRFalsarellaGRCoimbraAMV. Falls in elderly: basics concepts and updates of research in health. Rev Bras Geriatr Gerontol2014; 17: 201–209.
27.
KahielZGrantAAubinMJ, et al.Vision, eye disease, and the onset of balance problems: the Canadian longitudinal study on aging. Am J Ophthalmol2021; 231: 170–178.
