Visual acuity gain after cataract surgery improves the balance and gait parameters Sinan Emre 1, Bekir Durmus 2, Özlem Baysal 2 1 Celal Bayar University, School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Manisa, Turkey 2 Inonu University, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Malatya, Turkey Authors have no financial interest

Introduction Postural disturbances in olders may lead falls, injuries, mortality 5% of falls fractures 10-15% of falls variety of injuries Cognitive impairment, muscle weakness, postural hypotension, visual impairment, balance and gait abnormalities, foot problems, and medications may lead postural instability

Introduction Visual function is important for postural stability Vision: timely information regarding the movements of body segments and position in relation to each other and the environment Integration of the somatosensory, vestibular and visual systems inputs play an important role in maintenance of the balance

Purpose This study was to planned investigate the postural stability and mobility in cataract patients with various clinical tests To assess the potential improvement of postural stability and mobility scores after uncomplicated cataract surgery

Patients and Method 17 patients, (12M/5F) Mean age 66.29±9.87 years (50-80) Uneventful Phaco for age-related cataract between May Patients were evaluated preoperatively and 1 month after surgery at Departments of Ophthalmology and Physical Medicine & Rehab Ophthalmic evaluation: BCVA, Biomicroscopy, IOP, Ophthalmoscopy

Patients and Method At Physical Medicine&Rehabilitation: Dynamic postural stability assessed with BSS (Biodex) as antero-posterior stability index (APSI), medio- lateral stability index (MLSI) and overall stability index (OSI) Gait Analysis: The gait velocity, step length, stride length, step width and cadence were evaluated Time Up and Go test (TUG) was measured

Patients and Method Tinetti test; gait and balance were evaluated using Tinetti balance and gait test which is a standardized evaluation of mobility & stability Functional Reach test (FR); Subjects were asked to extend their arm to 90 o and reach forward as far as possible without losing their balance or taking a step

Preoperative (n=17)Postoperative (n=17) p= BCVA (LogMAR) 0.50±0.23 ( )0.10±0.15 ( )< OSI4.52±0.99 ( )3.41±0.78 ( )< APSI3.28±1.05 ( )2.63±0.54 ( )0.014 MLSI3.25±0.90 ( )2.27±0.74 ( )0.002 Tinetti balance 14.76±1.30 ( )15.70±0.77 ( )0.006 Tinetti gait 11.35±0.93 ( )11.82±0.39 ( )0.033 RESULTS

Preoperative (n=17)Postoperative (n=17) p= Gait velocity ±21.35 ( ) ±23.16 ( ) < Cadence 1.85±0.44 ( ) 2.16±0.46 ( ) TUG 11.50±2.69 ( ) 8.74±1.62 ( ) < FR 28.41±4.50 ( ) 32.29±4.96 ( ) No significant alteration for step length, stride lenght & walk base RESULTS

BCVA p= OSI MLSI Tinetti balance Tinetti gait Gait velocity TUG No significant correlation with APSI, step length, stride length, cadence, walk base, FR RESULTS: Correlation Analysis

CONCLUSION These results quantitatively documented that visual acuity gain after cataract surgery improves the gait and balance scores of patients with age-related cataract