Eyes and ears
Vision and hearing play an important part in balance and movement.
Your vision can change as you get older. You may develop problems with seeing depth and contrast and this can increase your risk of tripping.
Problems with hearing can also affect your balance.
What you can do:
- have an annual eye check with an optician. They can also check for various conditions affecting your vision. If you're housebound you may be able to arrange to have an eye or hearing test in your home
- ask for advice about wearing bifocal or varifocal lenses as they can cause you to trip or lose your balance
- have good lighting at home, especially at the bottom and top of stairs and areas where you read or work
- blinds over windows will allow you to control glare and direct light
- speak to your GP or health professional if you experience ear problems affecting your balance
Age UK has more information about looking after your eyes and hearing health.
You can use the NHS search tool to find opticians near you.
Visit the NHS website for information about how to get an NHS hearing test.