Preventing Eye Injuries Due to Falls | Fall Prevention Awareness Week

Injuries due to falls are very common. All types of injuries can occur, including eye injuries. In some instances, eye injuries from a fall can lead to vision loss. Fortunately, many falls are preventable.

September 18th to the 24th is Fall Prevention Awareness Week. It is a good time to bring attention to reducing your risk of falls.
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How common are falls? 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 25% of people over the age of 65 have a fall each year. That adds up to millions of older adults having a fall. Of those, many end up in the emergency room with various types of injuries. Research in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that of the eye injuries reported by older adults, about 11.5% were due to falls.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, some studies show that hospitalizations due to eye trauma have increased by about 18% over the last 13 years. Many of these injuries were due to falls. 
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Common types of eye injuries due to falls

Falls can happen in various locations. For instance, many falls happen at home, tripping on rugs or electrical cords. Falling down the stairs or getting in and out of the shower is also common.

The type of eye injury sustained varies. Injuries can include an orbital fracture or tears to the eyelid. Damage to the tear ducts can also occur due to falls. 
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​Why do falls happen?

Falls happen for several reasons. For instance, eyesight can start to fail as we age. Reflexes may also not be as sharp as they once were. Various medical conditions can also affect the feeling in the feet and how well someone walks.

People with certain types of medical conditions may also have problems with dropping blood pressure as they stand up. Foot problems can increase a person’s risk of falling.  Side effects of medication can increase sleepiness or dizziness, which may make falls more common.
Balance itself starts to decrease as we age. Balance is affected by a combination of factors, such as loss of muscle strength and poor posture. 
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Preventing falls 

The good news is there are many things we can do to decrease our risk of falling. Consider the following tips:

• Exercise: Losing muscle mass is not inevitable. Doing some type of strength training, especially as we age, helps keep muscles strong, which reduces fall risk.
• Do balance exercises: Practice balance exercises, such as standing on one foot, helps you improve stability.
• Talk with your healthcare provider: Talk with your doctor if you feel medication is making you dizzy.
• Reduce fall hazards: Removing clutter from your home may decrease your chances of falling. Remove small throw rugs that are easy to slip on.
• Increase stability: Install non-slip mats in the bathroom and consider also adding a grab bar for the tub.
• Pay attention to lighting: Make sure you have good lighting, especially in walkways, halls, and stairs.
• If you have poor vision, see an eye doctor to determine if treatment may help.

We hope the information above helps reduce your risk of falling. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.