To understand the roles of vision and spectacle lens design in falls risk, it is helpful to have an appreciation of the multifactorial nature of falls. This review defines a fall, highlights the demographic and socioeconomic drives for falls reduction strategies and identifies a range of visual and non-visual falls risk factors. The role of spectacle lens design (single-vision, bifocal or progressive addition lenses) is complex and is outside the remit of this review. 

Optical professionals provide a front-line contact with the elderly and are well placed to offer timely advice with regard to falls risk, particularly by identifying those with a change or reduction in vision.