Press Release

Unnecessary Sight Loss Causes Falls in Older People

24 June 2007

Falls represent the most common and serious type of accident in the over 65s, many of which are directly attributed to poor sight*, it will be announced at a conference ‘Dignity and Independence – Transforming Eye Care for Older People’ on 26 June. 
Supporting the already successful, annual ‘National Falls Awareness Day’ initiative from Help the Aged, the conference, hosted by the Eye Health Alliance in association with the RNIB, will be attended by Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Care Services, champion of the government’s ‘Dignity Challenge’. The conference will highlight the importance of regular eye testing for older people to prevent falls and improve their overall quality of life.

Falls are a major cause of death in older people.  The cost to the NHS of older adult falls is estimated at £981m per annum, a figure which could be drastically reduced if more older people took advantage of the free eye tests they are entitled to on the NHS. A staggering 4million older people do not have regular eye tests and may be wearing out of date glasses (or no glasses at all) thereby putting themselves in very real danger of falling.

The conference will seek to galvanise the thinking and influence of commissioners of health and social care services, government and charities to enable them to make eye care more prominent on the care agenda, thereby bringing dignity and independence to older people.

‘The eyecare service can have a significant impact on improving the independence of older people and vulnerable adults. The Dignity Challenge seeks to increase people’s independence and enhance their feeling of social inclusion and it is clear that access to eyecare services will be key to delivering this ’ says Ivan Lewis MP.

*Source: Help the Aged