Is improved vision key to reducing accidents among elderly?

Surgery to improve vision could be key to reducing accidents and injuries among the elderly, according to a new study.

Researchers found that people who undergo cataract surgery to improve vision are 16 per cent less likely to suffer hip fractures in the following 12 month period than those who take no action.

It was also found that older adults that have surgery have a five per cent lower risk for all fractures.

Those with severe cataracts can even lower their likelihood of fracture by 23 per cent, researchers claim.

The findings indicate that whole vision-improving procedures alone cannot prevent falls or fractures, eyesight plays a key role in the occurrence of accidents among older adults.

This follows a study by Age Uk, which revealed that more and more people over the age of 60 are experiencing bone fractures, with 220,000 people injured from a fall in 2011.

Of these, 40 per cent fractured their hip, while 43,000 hurt their arm and 17,000 their pelvis.

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