Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-07-13T20:36:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianadepaulaviana.pdf: 1013611 bytes, checksum: fc54b9475a12db2aa2e655e123803a10 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Diamantino Mayra (mayra.diamantino@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-14T10:40:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianadepaulaviana.pdf: 1013611 bytes, checksum: fc54b9475a12db2aa2e655e123803a10 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-14T10:40:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianadepaulaviana.pdf: 1013611 bytes, checksum: fc54b9475a12db2aa2e655e123803a10 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-18 / Vertigem Posicional Paroxística Benigna (VPPB) é uma das mais freqüentes afecções do sistema vestibular. Caracteriza-se clinicamente pela presença de episódios recorrentes de tonturas rotatórias, tipicamente desencadeados por determinados movimentos cefálicos realizados pelo paciente. A confirmação diagnóstica é obtida através de testes como a manobra de Dix-Hallpike e de Brandt-Daroff, nos quais, observa-se sistematicamente o desencadeamento de nistagmo. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia do tratamento com manobras de reposicionamento em pacientes com VPPB. Foi realizado em estudo prospectivo, longitudinal e experimental de Coorte envolvendo 36 pacientes acompanhados em ambulatório de otoneurologia. Foram considerados, para a análise dos dados, a evolução clínica dos pacientes, e os resultados obtidos na aplicação do questionário Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) na primeira consulta do paciente e após o tratamento com as manobras de reposicionamento. Os escores dos aspectos físico, funcional, emocional foram comparados e, assim, analisado o efeito da reabilitação vestibular sobre a qualidade de vida dos pacientes submetidos a esse tratamento. Para a comparação dos escores antes e depois do tratamento foi utilizado o teste t de Student para amostras pareadas. A análise dos resultados mostrou diferença significativa dos valores do DHI. As manobras de reposicionamento demonstraram ser um método simples e eficaz de tratamento da VPPB nos pacientes aqui relatados. / Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is among the most common vestibular disorders. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of vertigo induced by changes in head position. The condition is diagnosed by performing the tests like Dix-Hallpike and Brandt- Daroff maneuvers. Nystagmus is present by this way. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment with repositioning maneuvers in patients with BPPV. A prospective, longitudinal and experimental cohort study involving 36 patients followed up in outpatient neurotology. Were considered for data analysis, the clinical course of patients, and the results obtained in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) in the first visit to the patient and after treatment with repositioning maneuvers. The scores of physical, functional, and emotional aspects were compared and thus the effect of vestibular rehabilitation on quality of life of the patients undergoing this treatment was analyzed. For comparison of the scores before and after treatment it was used the Student’s t-test for paired samples. Data analysis showed a significant difference to the values of DHI. The repositioning maneuvers are an excellent treatment for BPPV. The patients of our series were successfuly treated by this method.

Orientador: Simone Appenzeller / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T16:23:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_Elizangelados_D.pdf: 1569830 bytes, checksum: 0312d7e3143dbf6847b4b3af7e90d245 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Objetivo: Verificar se há uma associação entre a espondilose cervical, sinais e sintomas auditivos e alterações no fluxo da artéria vertebral. Material e método: Foram selecionados 150 indivíduos que freqüentavam a Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade da Universidade Federal de Alfenas. Foram excluídos indivíduos com traumas, doenças sistêmicas ou locais que pudessem interferir com o sistema auditivo e vestibulococlear . No total, 102 indivíduos [91 (89,2%) do sexo feminino; média de idade de 59,4± 12,0 anos (variação de 30 a 91 anos)]. A presença de sinais e sintomas auditivos foi avaliada através de uma anamnese elaborada específicamente para esse fim. Radiografias nas posições anteroposterior, perfil e oblíquas foram realizadas em todos os indivíduos e analisadas por dois radiologistas, cegos em relação a sintomatologia. Ultrassonografia (US) Doppler foi realizada nas artérias vertebrais direita e esquerda em posição anatômica em todos os indivíduos, por um ultrassonografista cego quanto às manifestações clínicas ou radiográficas. A análise estatística foi realizada no programa SAS e Systat. Os testes estatísticos aplicados foram selecionados de acordo com a natureza das variáveis. Resultados: A prevalência de sintomas vestibulococleares foi observada em 83 (81,4%) dos indivíduos da amostra. Espondilose cervical foi observada em 71 (69,6%) dos indivíduos. A média de fluxo da artéria vertebral direita foi significativamente menor [85,3 ± 43,1 ml/min (variação 18,1 ¿ 208,9 ml/min)] quando comparados aos indivíduos sem espondilose cervical [101,2 ± 44,3 ml/min (variação 43,8 ¿ 282,3 ml/min; p=0,02). Não observamos alterações no fluxo arterial vertebral esquerda em pacientes com espondilose cervical, comparado aos indivíduos sem espondilose cervical. Não houve relação entre a alteração do fluxo arterial vertebral, a presença de espondilose cervical e sintomas vestibulococleares. Conclusão: Observamos uma elevada prevalência de sintomas vestibulococleares e espondilose em nossa amostra. O fluxo da artéria vertebral direita estava reduzido em indivíduos com espondilose, porém não houve associação com sintomas clínicos / Abstract: Objective: To determine the relationship between in signs and symptoms of hearing, espondylosis and vertebral artery flow. Methods: A total of 150 individuals from the Universidade aber ta a tercei ra idade da Universidade Federal de Al fenas were invi ted. Individuals wi th t rauma, systemic or local diseases that could inf luence vest ibulococlear symptoms were excluded. A total of 102 individuals[91 (89.2%) female; median age 59,4± 12,0 years (range 30 a 91 years)] were included. Vestibulocolcear symptoms were evaluated by clinical interview. X-ray of the cervical spine were done in anterior-posterior, lateral and oblique view and reviewed by two radiologist blind to the individuals' symptoms. Doppler ultrasound (US) of the vertebral artery was done in anatomic position in all individuals by an ultrasound expert blind to individuals characteristics. Statistics was performed using SAS and Systat according to the nature of the variable. Results: The prevalence of signs and symptoms of hearing was observed in 83 (81.4%) and spondylosis in 71 (69.6%) individuals. The mean right vertebral flow was significant smaller in individuals with spondylosis [85.3 ± 43.1 ml/min (range18.1 ¿ 208.9 ml/min)] when compared to individuals without spondylosis. We did not observe a difference regarding the left vertebral flow. No relation between arterial vertebral flow, spondylosis and vestibulocolear symptoms was observed. Conclusion: A high prevalence of vestibulococlear symptoms and spondylosis was observed in this cohort. The right vertebral artery had reduced flow in individuals with spondylosis, however no relation to symptoms was observed / Doutorado / Clinica Medica / Doutora em Clínica Médica

The otoneurological evaluation consists of exams to investigate auditory and vestibular pathologies, among them, the auditory brainstem response and vectonystagmography are tests commonly used in clinical practice. The evoked potentials are useful in cases of peripheral neural involvement and/or brainstem diseases, rarely asked for evaluating patients with vertigo complaints only, dizziness or balance disorders. Because of this, its applicability in these cases remains still unknown. The purpose of this study is to describe the otoneurologic results in patients with vestibular complaints, normal-hearing and with hearing loss, comparing their results in auditory brainstem response to the control-group. For this, 66 dizzy patients were evaluated and then were grouped: group A consisted of 31 normal hearing patients, mean age 40 years old, group B with 25 hearing loss patients, mean age 58 years, control group of ten normal hearing patients, mean age 26 years, without any vestibular or auditory complaints. These people were evaluated through audiometry, vectonystagmography and electrophysiology exams at Centro Clínico Mãe de Deus Center, Porto Alegre city. The corresponding data were grouped according to symptomatology and the exams results. The statistical analysis ANOVA and F significance test, the electrophysiological results were compared to the control group. The patients of groups A and B showed an increased of absolute latency of waves I, III e V statistically significant when compared to control group, although the latency values were within the normal patterns. The absence of wave I occurred in both groups of normal hearing and with hearing loss. In two patients of the group B the vectonystagmography showed central vestibular disease but the electrophysiological measures were normal in these cases. Conclusion: patients with vestibulochoclear complaints showed different electrophysiologyc results when compared to the control-group. / A avaliação otoneurológica consiste em exames para investigação de patologias auditivas e vestibulares, entre eles o potencial evocado de tronco encefálico e a vectoeletronistagmografia. Os potenciais evocados são utilizados em casos de suspeita de acometimento neural periférico e/ou de tronco encefálico, raramente indicado para sujeitos com queixas isoladas de vertigem, tontura ou desequilíbrio, de forma que sua contribuição na avaliação desses pacientes é pouco conhecida. Este estudo tem como objetivo descrever os achados da avaliação otoneurológica em pacientes com queixas vestibulococleares, normo-ouvintes e com perda auditiva, comparando os resultados do PEATE ao grupo-controle. Foram avaliados 66 pacientes e formaram-se os grupos A com 31 pacientes sintomáticos normo-ouvintes com média de idade de 40 anos, o grupo B com 25 pacientes sintomáticos e com perda auditiva, média de 58 anos de idade, e o grupo-controle, média de 26 anos, constituído por dez pacientes normo-ouvintes sem queixas vestibulares ou auditivas. Exames auditivos, vestibulares e eletrofisiológico foram realizados no Centro Clínico Mãe de Deus Center, em Porto Alegre, cujos dados foram agrupados conforme a sintomatologia e os resultados dos exames. Pela análise estatística ANOVA e teste F verificou-se a significância dos resultados eletrofisiológicos confrontados com o grupo-controle. Os pacientes dos grupos A e B apresentaram aumento em monobloco das latências absolutas das ondas I, III e V estatisticamente significativa, quando comparados ao grupo-controle, embora com valores dentro da normalidade. A ausência da onda I ocorreu em ambos os grupos, normo-ouvintes e com perda auditiva. Nos dois casos do grupo B em que a vectoeletronistagmografia acusou alteração vestibular central não foram verificadas alterações nos parâmetros eletrofisiológicos. Conclusão: os pacientes com sintomas vestibulares diferiram do grupo-controle quanto aos resultados eletrofisiológicos.

The maintenance of inner ear fluids homeostasis and their biochemical integrity are essential for the well functioning of hearing and equilibrium. Alterations in women s hormonal levels during menstrual cycle, menopause, and pregnancy can cause inner ear homeostasis disorders and, thus, related hearing and vestibular symptoms. The aim of this research was to evaluate hearing and equilibrium in postmenopausal women. The participants were 27 postmenopausal women with ages ranging from 45 to 58 who were not or are not upon hormonal reposition. All of them were submitted to anamnesis, otorhinolaryngological examination, basic hearing evaluation, and vectoelectronystagmography. In relation to anamnesis, significant prevalence of symptoms as headache, insomnia, anxiety, and nausea was observed. The complaint of dizziness was observed in 66, 66 percent of the 27 participants, while the complaint of tinnitus was detected in 40,74 percent of them. As for hearing, 48,15 percent of the postmenopausal women presented alteration in their audiometric results, while in reference to equilibrium, 40,74 percent of them showed alterations in their vectoelectronystagmography results. So, from these results, it can be concluded that postmenopause women present complaints about dizziness and tinnitus as well as present some alterations in their hearing and equilibrium. / A manutenção da homeostase dos fluidos do ouvido interno e sua integridade bioquímica são essenciais para o bom funcionamento da audição e do equilíbrio. As alterações hormonais no organismo da mulher durante o ciclo menstrual, menopausa e gravidez podem provocar distúrbios nessa homeostase, gerando sintomas auditivos e labirínticos. Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a audição e o equilíbrio em mulheres na pós-menopausa. Participaram deste estudo 27 mulheres com idade variando de 45 à 58 anos, que se encontravam na pós-menopausa, que não fazem e não fizeram uso de reposição hormonal.Todas foram submetidas a anamnese, exame otorrinolaringológico, avaliação audiológica básica e avaliação vectoeletronistagmografica. Quanto aos resultados da anamnese, pode-se observar grande prevalência de sintomas como: cefaléia, insônia, ansiedade e enjôo. A queixa de tontura esteve presente em 66,66% das mulheres e a queixa de zumbido em 40,74%. Quanto à audição, 48,15% das mulheres apresentaram audiometria alterada e quanto ao equilíbrio, 40,74% apresentaram alteração na vecto-eletronistagmografia. Assim, através da análise dos dados pode-se concluir que a mulheres na pós-menopausa apresentam queixa clínica de tontura e zumbido e alterações na audição e no equilíbrio.

Objective: To identify disruption due to dizziness symptoms following deployment-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) and factors associated with receiving diagnoses for these symptoms. Setting: Administrative medical record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Participants: Post-9/11 veterans with at least 3 years of VA care who reported at least occasional disruption due to dizziness symptoms on the comprehensive TBI evaluation. Design: A cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study. Main Measures: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes of dizziness, vestibular dysfunction, and other postconcussive conditions; neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory. Results: Increased access to or utilization of specialty care at the VA was significant predictors of dizziness and/or vestibular dysfunction diagnoses in the fully adjusted model. Veterans who identified as Black non-Hispanic and those with substance use disorder diagnoses or care were substantially less likely to receive dizziness and vestibular dysfunction diagnoses. Conclusions: Access to specialty care was the single best predictor of dizziness and vestibular dysfunction diagnoses, underscoring the importance of facilitating referrals to and utilization of specialized, comprehensive clinical facilities or experts for veterans who report disruptive dizziness following deployment-related TBI. There is a clear need for an evidence-based pathway to address disruptive symptoms of dizziness, given the substantial variation in audiovestibular tests utilized by US providers by region and clinical specialty. Further, the dearth of diagnoses among Black veterans and those in more rural areas underscores the potential for enhanced cultural competency among providers, telemedicine, and patient education to bridge existing gaps in the care of dizziness.

Background. Although treatments for dizziness as a result of visual-vestibular mismatch (VVM) exist, the lack of prognostic information about this population affects the quality of their rehabilitation care. Despite numerous studies showing that individuals presenting with non-specific dizziness are likely to have VVM, and despite VVM being recognized by to the international classification of vestibular disorders by the Bárány Society, it remains unknown how prevalent this condition is. The VVM diagnostic questionnaire has not yet been generally accepted as a useful tool for diagnosis. There are inadequate criteria for prescribed vestibular rehabilitation for individuals with VVM, and little evidence to support the selection of treatment programs among this population. Treatment outcomes are not particularly successful because of a lack of guidelines. Studies have been performed that address dizziness severity, but no reliable biometric measurement has been developed yet. A potential measure of VVM could be responses of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) during vestibulo-visual challenges given the anatomical relationship between the vestibular system and the ANS. Individuals with both peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction exhibit symptoms and signs of autonomic dysfunction as a result of vestibulo-autonomic interactions. Moreover, changes in postural sway are a tangible indicator of the balance during any disturbance to the vestibular system. In this dissertation the use of measures of electrodermal activity (EDA) of the ANS and postural acceleration are explored in vestibular migraine (VM) individuals both with and without VVM. Purpose. The aims of this dissertation were to examine, in VM adults: 1) the presence of VVM and visual dependency in individuals presenting with complaints of dizziness using the VVM questionnaire and the Rod and Frame protocol, respectively; 2) the potential of EDA activity and postural responses to differentiate between VM and healthy individuals when accommodating for postural instability and visual-vestibular conflict; and 3) the effect of exposure to different visual contexts of VR environments on EDA phasic and tonic responses and postural responses in identified VM adults with VVM. Participants. Seventy-four participants with dizziness were enrolled in Aim 1 (70% female, mean age 45.4 ± 14.8 years), and a total of 45 participants (23 healthy, 45.5% female, mean age 34± 9 years) and (22 VM adults, 61% female, mean age 34.4 ± 8, including 12 VM adults with VVM, 77% female, mean age 34±9) were enrolled in the experimental studies for Aims 2 and 3. Methods. In Aim 1, the VVM questionnaire and the Rod and Frame protocol were used to test the presence of VVM and visual dependency, respectively. In Aims 2 and 3, a Shimmer 3 IMU sensor accelerometer was used to assess trunk acceleration in the anterior-posterior, medial-lateral, and vertical directions with different VR environments (STREET and SPACE). EDA measurements were assessed with a wireless wearable Shimmer 3 GSR+. Clinical measures of dizziness and mobility were concurrently tested. A linear mixed model was used to examine the effect of VM with and without VVM on standing balance and EDA activity. Results. The presence of VVM, headache, and visual dependency demonstrated a strong association. EDA activity and postural acceleration significantly differed between VM and healthy individuals. Specific subjective reporting tools, including ABC, VSS-SF, VVAS, and DHI, were reliable for distinguishing between VM and healthy individuals. Lastly, VM individuals with VVM exhibited significantly greater NPL of trunk accelerations in the vertical plane than VM individuals without VVM with the STREET environment compared to the SPACE environment. Conclusion. VVM and visual dependency could be risk factors for developing vestibular migraine and should be included in the examination protocol of those populations. Combining measures of EDA and trunk acceleration may provide objective measures of the severity of dizziness related to VVM. Results of this dissertation suggest that the use of EDA measures combined with NPL-Vert could provide potential neurophysiological biomarkers in identifying VVM in adults with vestibular migraines. Further, the correlation between the characteristics of the visual environment and the subjective dizziness outcome measure may contribute to establishing a threshold-tolerance basis for designing a vestibular rehabilitation program that will more precisely target symptom severity. / Physical Therapy

INTRODUÇÃO: Os Potenciais Evocados Auditivos avaliam a atividade neuroelétrica da via auditiva desde o nervo auditivo até o córtex cerebral. A vectoeletronistagmografia permite analisar os canais semicirculares e/ou nervo vestibular inferior, verificando se existe comprometimento vestibular periférico ou central. A reabilitação vestibular é composta de exercícios físicos ativos e repetitivos de olhos, cabeça e corpo e/ou manobras específicas que visam diminuir a tontura e a instabilidade corporal, aumentar a estabilização no olhar, o controle postural e melhorar o bem-estar na realização das atividades do diaa- dia. Levando-se em conta a escassez de trabalhos na literatura que investiguem a via auditiva central em indivíduos com síndrome vestibular periférica e que sejam submetidos à reabilitação vestibular, torna-se importante conhecer o funcionamento do sistema auditivo central, desde o tronco encefálico até o córtex auditivo, em indivíduos com vestibulopatias periféricas. OBJETIVOS: caracterizar os potenciais evocados auditivos de curta, média e longa latências em indivíduos com vestibulopatias periféricas, bem como verificar a evolução destes potenciais e dos resultados obtidos no Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) frente à reabilitação vestibular. MÉTODOS: Foram submetidos à avaliação eletrofisiológica da audição por meio dos potenciais evocados auditivos de tronco encefálico (PEATE), potencial evocado auditivo de média latência (PEAML) e potencial cognitivo (P300), bem como à aplicação do questionário DHI, antes e após reabilitação vestibular, 20 indivíduos com diagnóstico de Síndrome Vestibular Periférica Irritativa (SVPI) e 17 indivíduos com diagnóstico de Síndrome Vestibular Periférica Deficitária (SVPD), com idades entre 20 e 70 anos. RESULTADOS: Os resultados demonstraram que o grupo com SVPD apresentou maior porcentagem de resultados alterados no PEATE e PEAML. No que diz respeito aos tipos de alterações, pode-se observar no grupo com SVPD, alteração em tronco encefálico baixo no PEATE pré e pós RV; aumento das latências das ondas Na e Pa no PEAML pós RV, aumento da latência da onda Pa pré RV e efeito eletrodo para a amplitude Na- Pa pós RV. No grupo com SVPI, foi observada alteração do tipo outros no PEATE pré RV; aumento da latência da onda Pa no PEAML pré e pós RV e ambas as alterações para a amplitude Na-Pa pós RV. No estudo da evolução dos resultados pré e pós RV, pode-se observar maior porcentagem de resultados semelhantes para os três potenciais, em ambos os grupos avaliados. Na comparação do DHI pré e pós RV, ocorreram melhores resultados para os aspectos físico, emocional e funcional no grupo com SVPI e para os aspectos físico e emocional no grupo com SVPD. Tornam-se necessários mais estudos que avaliem a via auditiva central destes indivíduos para uma melhor caracterização dos achados eletrofisiológicos / INTRODUCTION: The auditory evoked potentials assess the neuroelectrical activity of the auditory pathway from the auditory nerve to the cerebral cortex. The vectoelectronystagmography analyzes the semicircular canals and/or inferior vestibular nerve, checking peripheral or central vestibular involvement. The vestibular rehabilitation therapy consists in active exercises and repetitive eyes exercises, head and body and/or specific maneuvers to reduce the dizziness and body instability, increase gaze stability and postural control and also improve well-being in daily activities. Taking into account the scarcity of studies in the literature that investigate the central auditory pathways in subjects who underwent vestibular rehabilitation therapy, it becames important to know the central auditory system from the brainstem to the auditory cortex, in subjects with peripheral vestibular disorders. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the auditory evoked potentials of short, middle and long latencies in subjects with peripheral vestibular disorders, as well as to evaluate the development of these potentials and the results obtained in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) after vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). METHODS: brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), Auditory Middle- Latency Response (AMLR), cognitive potential (P300) and DHI were carried out in 20 subjects with Peripheral Vestibular Hyperfunction Syndrome and 17 subjects with Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction Syndrome, aged between 20 and 70, before and after vestibular rehabilitation therapy. RESULTS: The results showed that the Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction Syndrome group, presented higher percentage of altered results on BAEP and AMLR. Comparing the normal and altered results (qualitative analysis) between the groups in the BAEP, lower brainstem was predominantly observed in the Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction Syndrome group before and after VRT; increased latencies of Na and Pa waves in AMLR after VRT, incresead latency of Pa wave in AMLR before VRT and electrode effect to the Na-Pa amplitude after VRT. The alteration predominantly observed in the Peripheral Vestibular Hyperfunction Syndrome group, was the other type one before VRT; increased latency of Pa wave in AMLR before and after VRT and both changes to the Na-Pa amplitude after VRT. In the study of the evolution before and after VRT, it was observed a higher percentage of similar results for the three potentials in both groups. Comparing results before and after VRT, the DHI greatest improvement occurred for the physical, emotional and functional aspects in the Peripheral Vestibular Hyperfunction Syndrome group and for the physical and emotional aspects in the Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction Syndrome group. Further studies that evaluate the central auditory pathway of individuals with peripheral vestibular syndrome are needed to better characterize the electrophysiological findings

Realizamos um estudo, que avaliou o equilíbrio corporal de 120 idosos, 60 com queixa de desequilíbrio e/ou tontura, 60 sem queixa e como controle 58 indivíduos adultos normais. Usamos o teste de integração sensorial da posturografia dinâmica computadorizada. Nossos resultados mostraram piores valores de equilíbrio no grupo de idosos sintomáticos comparados ao grupo assintomático, que por sua vez foram piores que os adultos normais, estatisticamente significante. Os sistemas de equilíbrio que se revelaram mais comprometidos com o envelhecimento foram o visual e o vestibular / Using dynamic posturography we studied the balance of 120 elderly subjects, sixty with imbalance and dizziness and sixty without this symtom, as well as fifty- eight normal adults. We found worse results in the elderly symtomatic compared with assintomatic that have better results that normal adults, statistically significant. Equilibrium systems that showed age-related worse were visual and vestibular

Purpose: To determine whether symptoms of dizziness and fall rates change due to routine cataract surgery and to determine the influence of visual and refractive factors on these common problems in older adults. Methods: Self-reported dizziness and falls were determined in 287 subjects (mean age of 76.5±6.3 years, 55% females) before and after routine cataract surgery for the first (81, 28%), second (109, 38%) and both eyes (97, 34%). Six-month falls rates were determined using self-reported retrospective data. Dizziness was determined using the short-form of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Results: The number of patients with dizziness reduced significantly after cataract surgery (52% vs. 38%; χ2 = 19.14 , p < 0.001), but the reduction in number of patients who fell in the 6-months post surgery was not significant (23% vs. 20%; χ2= 0.87, p=0.35). Multivariate logistic regression analyses found significant links between post-operative falls and change in spectacle type (increased risk if switched into multifocal spectacles). Post-operative dizziness was associated with changes in best eye visual acuity and changes in oblique astigmatic correction. Conclusions: Dizziness is significantly reduced by cataract surgery and this is linked with improvements in best eye visual acuity, although changes in oblique astigmatic correction increased dizziness. The lack of improvement in falls rate may be associated with switching into multifocal spectacle wear after surgery.

No description available.