Poster 36 The Influence of Corrective Lenses on Foot Displacement during Gait: Implications on Falling and Disability

Measure the amount of foot placement error caused by varying strength multifocal lens eyeglasses when stepping down from a raised surface during gait and identify potential implications on falls risk rates. A within-subjects repeated measure design with random order of conditions. Gait Analysis & Biodynamics Laboratory. 20 young adult (18-25) non-multifocal lens wearers and 10 older adult (>45) non-multifocal lens wearers. Participants with eye, balance, or gait pathology are excluded. Multifocal reading eyeglasses with +1.75, +2.50, and +3.50 diopter add lenses in the lower portion of progressive lens glasses and non-corrective clear eyeglasses. Distance of foot placement from the target, measured by force plates using center of pressure. In addition, toe clearance, and hip, knee and head flexion will be measured using motion capture analysis. Participants will complete a subjective balance survey. Preliminary data from a related study by the same researchers indicate an increase in toe clearance when stepping up (p