Low Vision
Low Vision and Balance:
FYZICAL Monroeville Helps Prevent Falls
See Better. Move Safer.
Visual changes can significantly affect balance — in some cases even more than traditional causes like muscle weakness or inner ear problems. In this article, we explore how low vision impacts stability, increases fall risk, and changes naturally as we age. You’ll also learn practical strategies and how FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers -Monroeville’s specialized physical therapy programs can help improve confidence, safety, and mobility in daily life.
How Age-Related Visual Changes Affect Balance
As we age, our eyes undergo several natural changes that can significantly influence balance and stability. The lens of the eye becomes less flexible, reducing the ability to quickly focus on objects at different distances. This makes it harder to judge depth, navigate stairs, and detect obstacles in your path. Additionally, the pupils shrink and react more slowly to changes in light, which can make moving from a bright room to a dimly lit hallway or walking outside at dusk more challenging.
Other Common Visual Changes Include:
- Reduced peripheral vision: Makes it harder to detect hazards at the edges of your environment, such as uneven flooring or approaching objects.
- Decreased contrast sensitivity: Objects may blend into their surroundings, making curbs, steps, and edges harder to see.
- Impaired night vision: Darkness amplifies depth perception and spatial orientation challenges, which can make walking at night or in poorly lit areas risky.
- Slower visual processing: The brain takes longer to interpret visual information, delaying balance reactions when sudden corrections are needed.
These visual changes directly affect balance because vision provides critical feedback to the brain about your body’s position in space. When vision is reduced or delayed, the body relies more heavily on the vestibular (inner ear) and proprioceptive (muscle and joint) systems. However, these systems may not fully compensate, particularly in older adults. The result is slower reflexes, unsteady gait, and increased risk of falls — even in individuals with otherwise good muscle strength and inner ear function.
In short: as vision naturally declines with age, balance becomes more fragile, especially in low-light environments or when navigating uneven surfaces. Early intervention with balance-focused therapy can help retrain these systems, reduce fall risk, and restore confidence in daily movement, and FYZICAL Monroeville can help!
How Low Vision Affects Balance
Our eyes constantly send messages to the brain about where we are in relation to our surroundings. When vision becomes blurry, distorted, or reduced due to conditions like macular degeneration, Astigmatism, Amblyopia (lazy eye), glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy, the body compensates by relying more on the vestibular (inner ear) and proprioceptive (joint and muscle) systems.
While the body is remarkably adaptive and can often compensate for reduced vision, these natural adjustments aren’t always sufficient on their own. Without additional support, this can lead to challenges such as:
- Increased unsteadiness, especially in unfamiliar or dimly lit environments
- Difficulty judging steps, curbs, and obstacles
- Fear of falling, which can lead to reduced movement and muscle weakness over time
These challenges can quickly create a cycle of limited activity, reduced confidence, and higher fall risk. There is a solution! FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers- Monroeville unique overhead safety system provides unmatched support, allowing patients to build confidence in their mobility, improve strength, and improve balance, without the fear of falling.
Vision and Balance Changes as We Age
Even without a diagnosed eye condition, vision naturally changes with age. The lenses in our eyes become less flexible and less able to adjust to changes in light or focus. Night vision diminishes, making it harder to see clearly when walking in dim lighting — like getting up to use the bathroom at night or walking outside at dusk. Have you noticed increased difficulty moving around your home at night or in low-light conditions?
At the same time, our balance systems are also changing. Muscle strength, joint flexibility, and the sensitivity of our inner ear all decline gradually. When these subtle changes combine with reduced visual input, the result can be a noticeable decrease in steadiness — particularly when turning the head, walking on uneven ground, or navigating in the dark.
That’s why it’s common for older adults to say things like, “I feel fine walking during the day, but I get unsteady at night.” The good news is these changes don’t have to lead to falls or loss of independence — especially when addressed early through balance-focused therapy.
How FYZICAL Can Help
At FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Monroeville, we understand that balance depends on the integration of vision, vestibular, and sensory systems. Our team specializes in identifying how visual changes impact stability and movement. Our approach is customized to your unique needs, ensuring your concerns are always the priority. Using a science-backed protocol unique to FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, we address every type of visual challenge to help you move safely and confidently.
We utilize advanced balance testing and our Overhead Safety Harness System, which allows patients to safely challenge balance and improve coordination without the fear of falling. Through customized therapy, we help patients:
- Strengthen postural muscles and improve stability
- Learn safe strategies for navigating low-light or cluttered environments
- Retrain balance reactions and sensory input
- Regain confidence in walking and daily activities
Taking Steps Toward Safety and Independence
If you or someone you know has noticed increasing unsteadiness along with changes in vision, physical therapy may be the missing piece. Our goal is to help every patient move confidently and live safely — no matter their visual limitations.
Don’t let low vision limit your independence. Call FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers- Monroeville today to schedule your balance and fall risk assessment. FYZICAL Monroeville proudly supports Monroeville and surrounding communities including but not limited to Plum, Murrysville, Penn Hills, Oakmont, Irwin.
No referral needed, call to schedule today! 412-457-8200
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Falls Among Persons Aged ≥65 Years With and Without Severe Vision Impairment — United States, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 65(17), 457–461. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6517a2
- Crews, J. E., & Chou, C. F. (2016). Falls Among Persons Aged ≥65 Years With and Without Severe Vision Impairment — United States, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 65(17), 457–461. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6517a2
- Ellis, N. (2023). Occupational Therapy's Role in Low Vision. ScholarWorks. https://scholarworks.indianapolis.iu.edu/bitstreams/54810a24-1427-4708-b421-e91d8750a8e6/download
- Jin, H., et al. (2024). Association between vision impairment and increased risk of falls in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.18879
- Napier-Dovorany, K., & Graham, V. (2011). Evaluating Fall Risk in People with Low Vision: A Case Series. Optometry & Visual Performance, 1(3), 93–98. https://www.ovpjournal.org/uploads/2/3/8/9/23898265/ovp1-3_article_napier_web.pdf
- University of Michigan Health Lab. (2017). Impaired Vision? Create a Fall Prevention Plan with These Tips. Michigan Medicine. https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/impaired-vision-create-fall-prevention-plan-these-tips
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Exercise Can Help Decrease Fall Risk for Elderly People. Tufts University. https://medicine.tufts.edu/news-events/news/exercise-can-help-decrease-fall-risk-elderly-people