{
  "abstract": "Background: Cataracts are a major cause of reversible visual impairment worldwide, particularly among older adults. Visual deterioration associated with cataracts may compromise spatial perception, postural control, and balance, thereby increasing the risk of falls. In this context, cataract surgery has emerged not only as an effective intervention for visual rehabilitation but also as a potential strategy to improve mobility and functional performance in aging populations. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the impact of cataract surgery on postural control, balance, and fall risk in adults and older individuals by comparing preoperative and postoperative outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following a protocol registered in PROSPERO. Searches were initially conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus on 20 October 2025, and rerun on 10 March 2026, which was considered the final search date. Twelve studies were included, encompassing prospective cohorts, retrospective population-based analyses, and comparative studies. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework, and the methodological quality of individual studies was evaluated using JBI critical checklists. Results: The included studies generally reported improvements in visual function following cataract surgery, while several studies also reported favorable changes in postural stability, functional balance, and fall-related outcomes. However, findings varied according to study design, outcome definition, surgical timing, and follow-up period. Some studies reported more favorable fall-related and postural outcomes after second-eye surgery; however, the observational nature of the evidence and heterogeneity across studies preclude determining whether bilateral surgery itself caused these improvements. Conclusions: Cataract surgery appears to be associated with improved visual and postural function and, in several studies, with reduced fall incidence, particularly after bilateral correction. However, due to substantial heterogeneity, the predominance of observational evidence, and discordant findings on severe injurious outcomes, the certainty of this effect remains limited. The procedure should be regarded as a component of visual rehabilitation that may coincide with reduced fall risk in selected contexts, rather than a universal prevention strategy. Further prospective studies with standardized outcomes are needed to clarify the relationship between cataract surgery, visual function, postural control, and fall-related outcomes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo (PPGCS), São Paulo 01224-001, SP, Brazil.",
    "Anápolis Ophthalmology Hospital (AOH), Anápolis 75080-410, GO, Brazil.",
    "Human Movement and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil.",
    "School of Physiotherapy, Evangelical University of Goiás (UniEVANGÉLICA), Anápolis 75083-515, GO, Brazil.",
    "Campus Goianésia, University of Rio Verde (UNIRV), Rio Verde 75901-970, GO, Brazil.",
    "Campus Taguatinga, Catholic University of Brasília (UCB), Brasília 71966-700, DF, Brazil."
  ],
  "article_type": "systematic review",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Juliano Pereira"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Rodrigo Franco de Oliveira",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8074-8083"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Tamyris Mendes de Faria Sudré",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-3556-9397"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Matheus André R da Costa",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-6251-5499"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Bruna A Pires Franco de Oliveira",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4307-6342"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Amélia de Oliveira Pereira",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-5019-6267"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Gabriel de Oliveira Pereira",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8905-8003"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Luis V F Oliveira",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3852-9415"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Carlos Hassel Mendes da Silva"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Deise Aparecida de A P Oliveira",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5765-1897"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Diego Galace Freitas",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9946-6112"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9w1gr47q0hy6p.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/medsci14060654",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13707201",
  "id": "9w1gr47q0hy6p",
  "issns": [
    "2076-3271"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930573",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3612|Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221197047",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13707201?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13707201",
  "pmid": "42930573",
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9w1gr47q0hy6p.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42930573",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930573"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Impact of Cataract Surgery on Postural Control and Fall Risk in Adults and the Elderly: A Systematic Review.",
  "title_text": "Impact of Cataract Surgery on Postural Control and Fall Risk in Adults and the Elderly: A Systematic Review.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9w1gr47q0hy6p",
  "venue": "Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)",
  "versions": []
}