Visual field (VF) damage means you have sustained damage to or loss of part of your visual field—a common occurrence in people with glaucoma. A new study published in Opthalmology recently confirmed that older adults with glaucoma, or suspected glaucoma, and increased visual field damage tend to engage in less physical activity.*

What they did

Researchers analyzed patterns in physical activity levels relative to the level of visual field damage. They defined their degree of VF damage as being the average visual field sensitivity within the integrated visual field (IVF)—the lower the VF sensitivity, the worse the damage.

To measure physical activity, participants each wore an accelerometer for one week, which measured minute-by-minute activity during those seven days. They tested for activity fragmentation and the amount of activity engaged in between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.

What they found

The study found that with each five-unit decibel reduction in IVF sensitivity, there was an association of 16.3 fewer active minutes per day. There was also 2% greater activity fragmentation—but not with the number of active bouts per day. 

In a similar study from 2019, activity fragmentation is defined as “spreading daily activity across more episodes of brief activity.” This results in a lower total accumulation of exercise.

A reduction in IVF sensitivity was also associated with fewer steps in three-hour increment groups, ranging from:

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m and 106.6 fewer steps
• 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 93.1 fewer steps
• 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 89.2 fewer steps

What it means

“Given the associations between more fragmented activity and physiological decline [visual field damage], our findings suggest possible physical health consequences in some glaucoma patients, i.e., those with more fragmented activity due to severe VF damage,” the study states. 

What this means is that “a decrease in visual function can limit mobility, lead to morbidity and increase mortality risk,” said Mark Eltis, OD, FAAO, who offered his perspective on Primary Care Optometry News.

Earlier research found that increased physical activity is associated with slower rates of visual field loss. Therefore, doctors need to work with glaucoma patients in improving fragmentation and encouraging longer episodes of physical activity in whatever form that may be. 

“It is reasonable to suggest that the more we mitigate visual field damage the more we can improve overall health and increase longevity,” stated Dr. Eltis.

The original study is called “Patterns of Daily Physical Activity across the Spectrum of Visual Field Damage in Glaucoma Patients.”

*Holland, Jr., E. (2020, Aug. 31). Reduced visual field may lead to activity decline. Primary Care Optometry News. https://www.healio.com/news/optometry/20200831/reduced-visual-field-may-lead-to-activity-decline