Impaired vision and falls in the elderly people

Falls are the major public health issues in the elderly population.Every year accidental falls occur in 30％ to 40％ of those aged more than 65 years,with 20％ to 30％ of those falls resulting in serious injury (such as hip fractures and brain damages) in our country.After the falls,60％ of the elderly suffered from psychological disorders,limited mobility and decreased quality of life.Falls account for approximately half of all accident-related deaths.Visual impairment is the most important risk factor for falls in the elderly people.This article introduces the consequences and the intervention stragegies of falls in visually impaired older people.The purpose is to arouse our attention and concern on the ungency and seriousness of the falls in the elderly people with visual impairment. Key words: elderly population; visual impairment; falls