# Changes of Gait Patterns after Correction of Refractive Error in the Elderly with Cataracts
## 4 Discussion  
The visual system is an essential sensory organ that enables stable posture control and gait by continuously providing body position information through the recognition of objects and the surrounding environment [25]. A decrease in gait ability is unavoidable in the elderly due to physiological age-related degenerative changes, as well as the deterioration of the senses including the visual system and cognitive functions. For this reason, each specialized field is making efforts to prevent fall accidents in the elderly by identifying the \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Visual Measurement Factors**} & \multicolumn{5}{c}{**Gait Patterns**} \\ \cline{2-6}  & **Step Length** & **Stride Length** & **Cadence** & **Step Width** & **Walking Velocity** \\  & **(cm)** & **(cm)** & **(Steps/min)** & **(cm)** & **(m/s)** \\ \hline Spherical equivalent power & r = \(-0.047/p=0807\) & r = \(-0.121/p=0.524\) & r = \(-0.011/p=0.953\) & r = \(-0.176/p=0.351\) & r = \(-0.095/p=0.618\) \\ \hline Astigmatic diopter power & r = \(0.193/p=0.307\) & r = \(0.257/p=0.171\) & r = \(-0.134/p=0.480\) & r = \(0.146/p=0.442\) & r = \(0.228/p=0226\) \\ \hline Improvement of visual acuity lines & r = \(0.027/p=0.887\) & r = \(0.056/p=0.770\) & r = \(-0.053/p=0.780\) & r = \(-0.082/p=0.668\) & r = \(-0.151/p=0.427\) \\ \hline \end{tabular} Data are expressed as mean \(\pm\) SD.  
\end{table} 
Table 2: Analysis of correlation between the factors of visual measurements and each gait pattern. Figure 2: Analysis of correlation between change in step length and each gait pattern after wearing correction glasses; (**a**) Change in step length vs. change in stride length; (**b**) Change in step length vs. change in cadence; (**c**) Change in step length vs. change in step width; (**d**) Change in step length vs. change in walking velocity; * \(p<0.05\), *** \(p<0.001\)**: significantly difference according to [PERSON]’s correlation coefficient analysis \(n=30\) for each analysis. causes of gait stability deterioration and proposing the necessary solutions. The objective of this study was to verify whether there is a positive effect on gait patterns after providing the elderly who have cataracts with actual corrected glasses for refractive errors. Based on this, we would like to emphasize the social role of optometrists and the necessity of collaboration with related specialists to improve gait ability in the elderly and prevent fall accidents. Changes in gait patterns can develop as a result of the decline of the sensory-motor system, pelvic rotation, extension of the hip joint, and a decrease in the types of exercise that can be performed due to joint damage, pain, and fear of falling, all of which affect the elderly [26; 27]. In such situations reduced walking velocity is a common compensatory action for the maintenance of gait stability [28]. A strategy of shortening the step length is employed and adapted to the pattern in cases where walking velocity cannot be reduced [29]. Previous studies have demonstrated that changes in gait patterns can be a result of poor visual information. [PERSON] et al. [30] reported that when walking, patients with age-related macular degeneration take shorter steps than normal individuals. According to [PERSON] et al. [31], decreased contrast sensitivity can be a cause of changes in gait patterns, leading to reduced walking velocity and step length. In particular, for people with this condition, the narrowing of the visual field occurs while climbing up and down stairs, and thus distinguishing the edge position or distance of the floor can be difficult for them, resulting in slower walking velocities and shorter step lengths [32]. As shown in Table 1, changes in gait pattern were observed when the participants were wearing correction glasses, with longer mean step and stride lengths, decreased cadence, and wider step width compared to what the participants had shown before wearing the glasses.