Factors associated with the occurrence of a fall in subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma

Background The aim of the study is to investigate risk factors for future falls in subject with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods All participants answered the following question at their baseline ophthalmic examination: Have you had any falls in the last year? (Yes/No). All study participants answered the same question every 12 months for 3 years. The means of total deviation values in the whole, superior peripheral, superior central, inferior central, and inferior peripheral visual fields (VF) were calculated. The relationship between these mean VF measurements, and various clinical factors against patients’ future falls was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Results Two-hundred ninety four POAG patients answered the baseline and follow-up fall questionnaires over a period of three years. Among 294 subjects, 69 patients experienced a fall during the three-year follow-up. History of falls at baseline (coefficient = 1.22), history of fear of falling at baseline (0.53), best corrected visual acuity in the worse eye (7.37), prevalence of diabetes mellitus (0.60), prevalence of systemic hypertension (0.53) were selected in the optimal model. Conclusions Visual acuity in the worse eye, history of falls, fear of falling, diabetes mellitus, and systemic hypertension are risk factors for falling in subjects with POAG. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12886-017-0613-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.