Glaucoma, Visual Field Loss, and Their Association With Life Space in Older Adults

Glaucoma, Visual Field Loss, and Their Association With Life Space in Older Adults

Mobility refers to a person's purposeful movement through the environment from one place to another and can be conceptualized as a continuum from bed bound (immobility) on one extreme to making excursions to distant locations on the other extreme. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic, progressive optic neuropathy that can lead to gradual loss of vision in the peripheral field and central vision. Older adults with POAG have an increased risk for motor vehicle collisions and falls. Moreover, existing studies suggest that patients with POAG exhibit more postural sway while standing as measured by a balance platform and also tend to walk more slowly than those who are normally sighted and free of ocular disease. While these disturbances likely influence mobility, there has been little research directly assessing the impact of POAG on mobility. This study will assess the impact of POAG on life space (one aspect of mobility) and will determine whether difficulties with life space are associated with difficulties experienced under conditions of dim lighting.

Aim 1: To determine whether differences exist between people with healthy eyes and patients with POAG in seeing under dim illumination (Low Luminance Questionnaire) and to determine whether such differences are associated with life space.

Aim 2: To determine whether differences exist between people with healthy eyes and patients with POAG in seeing under dim illumination (objective measures of visual function) and to determine whether such differences are associated with life space.

Inclusion Criteria (Patients):

• Participants that are enrolled in the Early Detection of Glaucoma Progression using a Novel Individualized Approach (IRB-300000301) or in the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation (ADAGES) IV: Alterations of the Lamina Cribrosa in Progression (IRB-161115004).

Exclusion Criteria (Patients):

• Not being enrolled in one of the following two NIH-funded studies: 1. African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation (ADAGES) IV: Alterations of the lamina cribrosa in progression (EY026574) or 2. Early detection of glaucoma progression using a novel individualized approach (EY025756)

Inclusion Criteria (Controls):

• No diagnosis of eye disease

Exclusion Criteria (Controls):

• Cognitive impairment that would preclude ability to take the tests