Logic dictates that there must be some relationship between cataracts and the risk of fracture due to an accidental fall. But beyond logic, there is a scientific study that not only confirms that such a relationship does exist, but also quantifies it.
Cataracts and fracture risk: how they are linked
The study has been published in the medical journal JAMA Ophthalmology. It should be noted that this is a monthly journal specialising in ophthalmology and has been published since 1929 by the prestigious American association AMA (American Medical Association).
The findings of this study, based on statistical data, indicate that older people with cataracts are more prone to hip fractures. The probable causes are twofold: loss of visual acuity and lack of depth perception.
Specifically, according to this study, older people who undergo a cataract surgery are 30 % less likely to suffer hip fractures in the year after surgery.
But regardless of the quantified conclusion of this study, the fact is that, once the symptoms of ocular cataracts are known, anyone can deduce that the presence of cataracts is a factor that increases the risk of falling and, therefore, of fracture of any bone or joint.
Cataract symptoms
And what are these symptoms? In mild cases, the following:
- Blurred or hazy vision.
- Difficulty seeing at night.
- Hypersensitivity to night lights and flashes.
- Presence of halos (nebulous rings) or around light sources
In advanced stages, a cataract in the eye leads to a diminished sense of visual depth. And this lack of depth perception can be more than enough to cause a stumble or fall when trying to overcome an unevenness or a step.
In the most severe cases, vision loss is very severe and can even lead to total blindness.
Factors that increase the risk of fractures in people with cataracts
The main factor is age. Why? Because over the years, in addition to cataracts, other ailments tend to appear that also increase the risk of falling and/or fracture:
- Reduced mobility disorders.
- Coordination and balance problems.
- Loss of mental abilities and reflexes.
- Some specific diseases and disorders, such as osteoporosis and loss of muscle mass in the lower body.
- Other concurrent visual conditions.
Clearly, anyone who has cataracts and suffers from any of the above conditions is more likely to suffer from fractures and falls, regardless of their age.
Is it possible to reduce this risk?
The main measure to reduce the risk of falls and fractures is to undergo cataract surgery, which restores or even improves the patient's previous vision. But a person may already have suffered a gradual partial loss of vision, without being aware of it, due to incipient cataracts.
Therefore, the second preventive measure is to have regular eye examinations: the ophthalmologist will detect the existence of cataracts, even in their earliest stages of development.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
At what age do cataracts appear in the eyes?
None in particular, but the likelihood of them appearing increases with age. Cataracts are due to a natural degeneration of the eye associated with age, in which the lens gradually loses its transparency.
As a guideline, most people over the age of 60 already show some incipient signs of cataract, although signs can be detected even in people in their forties.
What does cataract surgery consist of?
It is a surgical procedure that is usually brief and offers few complications. During the procedure, the ophthalmologist replaces the patient's natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens.
Except in cases of very reactive or nervous patients, the operation is performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia.
We conclude by adding that, once the relationship between the existence of cataracts and the risk of fracture is known, in the Dr. Nebro Ophthalmology Clinic we have all the human resources and the most advanced technological equipment to detect cataracts at an early stage and to carry out their surgical treatment.