Glaucoma can affect more than what you see on an eye chart. As the disease damages the optic nerve and affects your visual field—the area you can see around you—it can also change how confidently you move through your surroundings.

Research has found connections between glaucoma-related visual-field loss and falls. A 2025 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that people whose glaucoma was progressing more quickly were more likely to report previous falls and greater fear of falling. People classified as rapid visual-field progressors were more than twice as likely to report a fall in the previous year.

That does not mean everyone with glaucoma will fall, or that glaucoma is the only factor involved. Balance, strength, medications, other health conditions, and your environment can all affect fall risk.

The goal is not to become less active. It is to understand where glaucoma may create challenges and make practical changes that help you move through daily life more safely and confidently.*

How can glaucoma affect mobility?

Glaucoma often damages peripheral, or side, vision. Depending on where vision loss occurs, you may have more difficulty noticing objects, steps, curbs, or changes in the walking surface.

These changes can happen gradually, so you may adapt without realizing how much more effort it takes to navigate certain places.

Many falls happen close to home

Home may feel like the safest place because you know it well. But familiarity does not remove every hazard.

An observational study on falls in glaucoma found that 57% of recorded falls happened at home. Researchers also found that each step taken at home was more likely to result in a fall than a step taken outside the home.

The study authors suggested that improving the home environment may help reduce falls while still allowing people to remain physically active.

A few practical changes may help:

Improve lighting.
Make sure stairs, hallways, bathrooms, entrances, and other frequently used spaces are evenly and brightly lit. Night-lights and motion-activated lights can help when moving around after dark.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation notes that people with glaucoma-related low vision may benefit from both general room lighting and focused task lighting.

Keep walking paths clear.
Electrical cords, shoes, bags, pet toys, and other objects can become harder to notice when peripheral vision is reduced.

Remove unnecessary clutter from areas where you walk frequently.

Secure or remove loose rugs.
Area rugs that slide, bunch, or curl at the edges can create trip hazards. Nonskid backing or removing unnecessary rugs may make walking areas safer.

Make stairs easier to identify.
Use sturdy handrails and good lighting. Some people may also benefit from greater color contrast along stair edges.

Add support in bathrooms.
Grab bars and non-slip surfaces can provide additional stability in areas where water makes floors slippery.

These changes are not unique to glaucoma, but they can be especially helpful when vision loss makes obstacles or changes in depth and contrast harder to detect.

Don’t overlook fear of falling

Fall prevention is not only about whether a person actually falls. Fear of falling can also change daily life.

The 2025 glaucoma study found that faster visual-field progression was associated with greater fear of falling. Someone who becomes worried about falling may start avoiding stairs, exercise, social activities, shopping trips, or unfamiliar places.

That response is understandable, but becoming much less active can create other problems. Reduced activity can contribute to loss of strength and balance, which are also important for safe mobility.

The goal is to find ways to remain active while addressing the reasons you feel unsafe.

If fear of falling is changing what you do, tell your healthcare team. It is a meaningful symptom, even if you have never actually fallen.

Vision rehabilitation can help you adapt

If glaucoma-related vision loss is making everyday activities harder, ask your eye-care provider about vision rehabilitation, a program that can help with adjustments to a wide range of everyday activities including reading, driving, mobility and home safety, and visual motor tasks. 

While vision rehabilitation does not restore vision that glaucoma has already damaged, it can help people use their remaining vision more effectively and learn strategies for daily activities.

Other factors can affect fall risk, too

Glaucoma may be only one part of the picture. Other factors can affect stability and mobility, including:

• Muscle strength and balance
• Footwear
• Medications that may cause dizziness or sleepiness
• Other health conditions
• Vision from conditions besides glaucoma
• Hazards in the home

If you have experienced a fall, feel unsteady, or have new dizziness, tell your healthcare provider.

Do not stop or change medications on your own because you think they may be contributing to balance problems. A doctor or pharmacist can review your prescription and over-the-counter medicines with you.

What should you tell your eye doctor?

Your visual-field test provides important information about glaucoma, but your eye-care team also needs to know how your vision affects real life.

Consider mentioning if you:

• Have fallen or nearly fallen
• Frequently bump into objects
• Have trouble seeing steps or curbs
• Feel less confident walking in dim lighting
• Have started avoiding unfamiliar places
• Feel increasingly worried about falling
• Have difficulty finding objects because of reduced side vision

You can also ask:

• Has my visual field changed significantly?
• Could my vision loss be contributing to mobility problems?
• Would low-vision rehabilitation help me?
• Should I see an occupational therapist or another rehabilitation specialist?
• Are there strategies that could help me navigate more safely?

These conversations can help connect what your doctor sees on testing with what you experience every day.

Staying safe without giving up independence

Living with glaucoma sometimes means adapting to changes you did not choose.

Fall prevention should not be about telling people with glaucoma to stay home, stop exercising, or avoid activities they enjoy. In fact, research on falls in glaucoma specifically emphasizes making environments safer while maintaining physical activity.

References

• PubMed. (February 21, 2025.) “Risk of Falls, Fear of Falling, and Rates of Visual Field Progression in Glaucoma in the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study.” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Glaucoma Research Foundation. (May 18, 2026.) “Living With Glaucoma: Low Vision Support.” 
  glaucoma.org/articles/living-with-glaucoma-low-vision-support
• Glaucoma Research Foundation. (Last reviewed May 10, 2022.) “Getting Help If You Have Low Vision.” glaucoma.org/articles/getting-help-if-you-have-low-vision
• National Eye Institute. (Updated August 19, 2026.) “Glaucoma.” nei.nih.gov

The information provided by The Glaucoma Community is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always talk with your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment or care. The Glaucoma Community does not endorse specific treatments, providers, or products.