Visual field loss and falls requiring hospitalisation: results from the eFOVID study

Background: Visual fields are important for postural stability and ability to manoeuvre around objects. Objective: Examine the association between visual field loss and falls requiring hospitalisation in adults aged 50 +. Methods: Older adults aged 50⁺ with and without visual field loss were identified using a fields database obtained from a cross-section of ophthalmologists’ practices in Western Australia (WA). Data were linked to the Hospital Morbidity Data Collection and WA Hospital Mortality System to identify participants who experienced falls-related hospitalisations between 1990 and 2019. A generalised linear negative binomial regression model examined the association between falls requiring hospitalisation for those with and without field loss, based on the better eye mean deviation (mild: −2 to –6 dB, moderate: −6.01 dB to –12 dB, severe < −12.01 dB) in the most contemporaneous visual field test (3 years prior or if not available, 2 years after the fall), after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 31 021 unique individuals of whom 6054 (19.5%) experienced 11 818 falls requiring hospitalisation during a median observation time of 14.1 years. Only mean deviation index of <−12.01 dB (severe) was significantly associated with an increased rate of falls requiring hospitalisations by 14% (adjusted IRR 1.14, 95% CI 1.0–1.25) compared with no field loss, after adjusting for potential confounders. Other factors included age, with those aged 80⁺ having an increased rate (IRR 29.16, 95% CI 21.39–39.84), other comorbid conditions (IRR 1.49, 95% CI 1.38–1.60) and diabetes (IRR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14–1.37). Previous cataract surgery was associated with a decreased rate of falls that required hospitalisations by 13% (IRR 0.87, 95% CI 0.81–0.95) compared with those who did not have cataract surgery. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of continuous clinical monitoring of visual field loss and injury prevention strategies for older adults with visual field loss.