We analysed financial data from a hospital in England (Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust) and found that glaucoma potentially plays a part in around one in eight falls resulting in hospital admission, at considerable personal and financial cost. This extrapolates to an estimated annual 10,056 admissions at a cost of £28.6 million across the UK.

Our data also suggested that people with glaucoma may also be more likely to be admitted to hospital for a fall than those without glaucoma (prevalence of 0.85% versus 0.16%, p < 0.00001). Given that glaucoma is relatively common in older people, who are also at high risk of falls, we suggest that further work should explore early diagnosis of glaucoma, treatment and mitigation of falls risk.

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