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Obstacle Negotiation in Older People With and Without Vision Impairment

Impact of Stepping Over Obstacles of Different Contrast and Height on Gait and Eye Movements in Older Adults With and Without Vision Impairment

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 or over
* Able to walk independently
* Either have normal vision, or impaired vision.

  * Impaired vision is defined as binocular visual acuity of 20/25 or worse with or without a central scotoma; and/or binocular visual field that is restricted to an average of 100 degrees in diameter or less
  * Control subjects will have visual acuity of 20/40 or better.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not cleared by a medical provider for moderate physical activity
* Self-report or have a history of: vestibular disorder or deafness
* Medical history of any condition that affects the ability to walk for up to 2 hours with breaks, such as feeling dizzy or faint, chest pain, palpitations, pain or numbness in the legs, shortness of breath,
* Cognitive limitations either by self-report or a score on the Mini Mental State Exam below 24 (out of 30)
* Walking or gait abnormalities, such as those caused from an injury, surgery, severe arthritis, or neurological condition such as Parkinson's disease
* Unable to walk without any walking aids such as a walker, cane, guide dog, or oxygen tank.
* Does not speak English

About the study

Falls are common among people with vision impairment and can lead to devastating health consequences. Understanding the functions of vision and how the visual characteristics of obstacles in the walking path impact the gait of people with vision impairment is necessary to create strategies to prevent falls in this population. The purpose of this study is to determine how adults with vision impairment change their gait behavior when stepping over obstacles that vary in height and contrast to the ground. We will then determine the mechanisms of gaze behavior that correlate to the gait behavior.

What is being tested

• Obstacle characteristics (other)

Sponsor: Indiana University · Participants: 200 · Started: Apr 14, 2023

Contact the study team

• Kierstyn A Napier-Dovorany, OD · Phone: 8128554426

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05888441

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Low Vision

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.