Fall Risk Assessments for Individuals with Visual Impairment: A Scoping Review of Questionnaire-Based Tools

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Ophthalmology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Individuals with visual impairment face heightened fall risks due to complex sensory, functional, and environmental factors.
• Current fall risk assessment tools inadequately address the specific vision-related challenges contributing to falls in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and summarize existing questionnaire-based tools for assessing fall risk in individuals with visual impairment.
• To map the current literature, identify research gaps, and inform the development of effective preventive strategies for falls in visually impaired populations.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Nineteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed, focusing on questionnaire-based assessments for fall risk in visually impaired individuals.

Main Results:

• Eleven vision-specific questionnaires were identified and summarized from the reviewed literature.
• The review highlighted significant gaps in the existing evidence base regarding fall risk assessment tools tailored for visual impairment.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for further research to examine the measurement properties of existing vision-specific fall risk questionnaires.
• Developing and validating novel assessment approaches is essential to improve fall prevention strategies for individuals with visual impairment.