Abstract
Purpose:To evaluate risk factors associated with nuclear and cortical cataracts among a hospital based sample of subjects in Southern India.Methods:In this hospital-based study, 3,549 subjects including 2,090 male and 1,459 female individuals aged 45 years and over were randomly screened for nuclear and cortical cataracts. Lens opacity was graded and classified after pupil dilation using the lens opacities classification system (LOCS) III at the slit lamp. Furthermore, participants were interviewed for lifestyle variables and dietary intake of carotenoids using a structured food frequency questionnaire.Results:Demographic risk factors for cataracts included older age and lower socioeconomic status. Nuclear cataracts were associated with diabetes (OR = 6.34; 95% CI: 2.34-8.92%), tobacco chewing (moderate, OR = 3.04; heavy, OR = 4.62), cigarette smoking (moderate, OR = 1.58; heavy, OR = 1.87) and hypertension (OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.25-2.78%). Cortical cataracts were associated with diabetes (OR = 15.03; 95% CI: 7.72-29.2%), tobacco chewing (moderate, OR = 2.16; heavy, OR = 2.32) and cigarette smoking (moderate, OR = 2.20; heavy, OR = 2.97). Higher dietary intake of lutein/zeaxanthin (L/Z) and β-carotene was associated (P < 0.001) with a lower risk of nuclear and cortical cataracts.Conclusion:Higher dietary intake of carotenoids is associated with a lower risk of cataracts. Nuclear and cortical cataracts are associated with various risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking and tobacco, similar to studies conducted in other Asian and European populations, irrespective of ethnic origin.
Highlights
Cataract is the opacification of the healthy transparent crystalline lens in the eye and develops slowly as a consequence of aging.[1]
Nuclear cataracts were graded with reference to standard photographs on a decimal scale of 0.1‐6.9 based on optical density without reference to lens color
Consistent with other studies,[8,14] aging is a major contributing factor for cataracts as clearly evidenced in the present study; this probably occurs due to cumulative damage from the environment, genetic predisposition and a decrease in defense mechanisms
Summary
Cataract is the opacification of the healthy transparent crystalline lens in the eye and develops slowly as a consequence of aging.[1]. Risk factors for nuclear and cortical cataracts: A hospital based study. Risk Factors for Cataract; Mamatha et al cortical and posterior subcapsular. Cataracts account for 17.7 million (47.8%) out of 37 million cases of blindness worldwide.[2]. In India, cataracts are responsible for 77.5% of avoidable blindness[3] and the prevalence of unoperated cataracts is high.[4,5]. Despite the fact that cataracts are of public health significance in India, there are only few reports on risk factors for age‐related cataracts from India.[6‐8]. In India, cataracts are responsible for 77.5% of avoidable blindness[3] and the prevalence of unoperated cataracts is high.[4,5] Despite the fact that cataracts are of public health significance in India, there are only few reports on risk factors for age‐related cataracts from India.[6‐8] the relationship between the dietary intake of carotenoids and risk of cataract has not been established in India
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