Effects of visual restoration on gait performance and kinematics of lower extremities in patients with age-related cataract

BACKGROUND: Visual inputs are critical for locomotor navigation and sensorimotor integration in the elderly; however, the mechanism needs to be explored intensively. The present study assessed the gait pattern after cataract surgery to investigate the effects of visual restoration on locomotion. METHODS: The prospective study recruited 32 patients (70.1 ± 5.2 years) with bilateral age-related cataracts in the Department of Ophthalmology at Peking University Third Hospital from October 2016 to December 2019. The temporal-spatial gait parameters and kinematic parameters were measured by the Footscan system and inertial measurement units. Paired t-test was employed to compare data normally distributed and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for non-normally distributed. RESULTS: After visual restoration, the walking speed increased by 9.3% (1.19 ± 0.40 m/s vs. 1.09 ± 0.34 m/s, P=0.008) and exhibited an efficient gait pattern with significant decrease in gait cycle (1.02 ± 0.08 s vs. 1.04 ± 0.07 s, P=0.012), stance time (0.66 ± 0.06 s vs. 0.68 ± 0.06 s, P=0.045), and single support time (0.36 ± 0.03 s vs. 0.37 ± 0.02 s, P=0.011). High amplitude of joint motion was detected in the sagittal plane in the left hip (37.6° ± 5.3° vs. 35.5° ± 6.2°, P=0.014), left thigh (38.0° ± 5.2° vs. 36.4° ± 5.8°, P=0.026), left shank (71.9° ± 5.7° vs. 70.1° ± 5.6°, P=0.031), and right knee (59.1° ± 4.8° vs. 56.4° ± 4.8°, P=0.001). The motor symmetry of thigh improved from 8.35 ± 5.30% to 6.30 ± 4.73% (P=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: The accelerated gait in response to visual restoration is characterized by decreased stance time and increased range of joint motion. Training programs for improving muscle strength of lower extremities might be helpful to facilitate the adaptation to these changes in gait.