Mobility speeds decrease faster in older patients with glaucoma

Older adults with glaucoma who have visual field damage have a more rapid decrease in mobility speed than individuals with normal sight, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Older adults with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma (n = 241) who were enrolled in a prospective cohort study and followed for up to 3 years had baseline visual field (VF) damage categorized as normal/mild (IVF >28 dB), moderate (IVF, 23-28 dB), and severe (IVF, <23 dB). Every year of the study, participants walked on an electronic walkway back and forth twice at a normal pace and longitudinal changes in gait were analyzed.

Stride velocity and cadence decreased at faster rates in participants with severe visual field damage, and within each glaucoma severity group, stride velocity and cadence were associated with severe VF damage.

Reference
E J, Mihailovic A, Garzon C, et al. Association Between Visual Field Damage and Gait Dysfunction in Patients With Glaucoma. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online July 22, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.2617