Risk Factors For Cataract Research Articles

Cataract Prevalence in Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma in Lithuanian Population

Background/Objectives: Sun exposure and ultraviolet (UV) radiation significantly affect human health, especially concerning skin and eye conditions. Sun exposure is a risk factor for both cutaneous melanoma (CM) and cataract. To investigate the association between CM, cataract and the number of common melanocytic nevi (CMNs) in the Lithuanian population. Methods: A case–control study with 180 primary diagnosed CM subjects and 182 healthy controls was conducted. Participants underwent ophthalmic and dermatological examination, where a counting of the common melanocytic nevi (CMNs) on the face, outer surfaces of the upper arms, lower arms and hands was performed. A detailed ophthalmic slit lamp examination was conducted; additionally, lens status and cataract formation were evaluated according to the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III). Results: Subjects with an LOCS III grade of nuclear opalescence (NO) ≥3 had a 1.82 times higher risk of CM, and patients with a nuclear color (NC) grade ≥3 had a 2.02 times higher risk of CM. LOCS III evaluations of cortical (C) and of posterior subcapsular (P) cataract showed a 5.24 and 6.34 times increased risk of CM, respectively. The CMN number on the face increased CM risk by 1.25 times; on the outer surface of the upper and lower arms, correspondingly 1.05 and 1.04 times; and on outer surface of hands—1.29 times. Conclusions: All types of cataracts were found more often in patients with CM than in healthy subjects. The number of CMNs on the face and outer surfaces of arms and hands could be an indicator of higher risk for CM.

Development and construction of a cataract risk prediction model based on biochemical indices: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2008.

The aim of this study is to develop and validate a novel multivariable prediction model capable of accurately estimating the probability of cataract development, utilizing parameters such as blood biochemical markers and age. This population-based cross-sectional study comprised 9,566 participants drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) across the 2005-2008 cycles. Demographic information and laboratory test results from the patients were collected and analyzed using LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression to accurately capture the influence of biochemical indicators on the outcomes. The SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) scale was employed to assess the importance of each clinical feature, excluding age. A multivariate logistic regression model was then developed and visualized as a nomogram. To assess the model's performance, its discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, 10-fold cross-validation, Hosmer-Lemeshow calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA), respectively. Logistic regression analysis identified age, erythrocyte folate (nmol/L), blood glucose (mmol/L), and blood urea nitrogen (mmol/L) as independent risk factors for cataract, and these variables were incorporated into a multivariate logistic regression-based nomogram for cataract risk prediction. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for cataract risk prediction was 0.917 (95% CI: 0.9067-0.9273) in the training cohort, and 0.9148 (95% CI: 0.8979-0.9316) in the validation cohort. The Hosmer-Lemeshow calibration curve demonstrated a good fit, indicating strong model calibration. Ten-fold cross-validation confirmed the logistic regression model's robust predictive performance and stability during internal validation. Decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated that the nomogram prediction model provided greater clinical benefit for predicting cataract risk when the patient's threshold probability ranged from 0.10 to 0.90. This study identified blood urea nitrogen (mmol/L), serum glucose (mmol/L), and erythrocyte folate (mmol/L) as significant risk factors for cataract. A risk prediction model was developed, demonstrating strong predictive accuracy and clinical utility, offering clinicians a reliable tool for early and effective diagnosis. Cataract development may be delayed by reducing levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum glucose, and erythrocyte folate through lifestyle improvements and dietary modifications.

A clinical study on evaluation of risk factors and visual outcome after phacoemulsification in presenile cataract patients

To evaluate the risk factors, types of pre senile cataract and to assess the visual outcome after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in pre senile cataract.This was a hospital based cross sectional study of 90 patients who presented to Ophthalmology OPD of a tertiary care hospital and was diagnosed to have pre senile cataract. The study was done from June 2020 to November 2021. Patients who gave written informed consent were included in the study. Detailed history was taken regarding the age, gender, risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, myopia, occupation, smoking, corticosteroid use, dermatological disease etc. All the patients were subjected to routine ophthalmological evaluation. All the patients underwent phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. Visual acuity was noted before and after the surgery. The risk factors for pre senile cataract and visual acuity before and after cataract surgery was statistically analysed.Out of 90 patients included in the study, 60% were females Mean age at presentation was 42.94 ±5.93 years. Most common cause of pre senile cataract was diabetes mellitus (42.2%) followed by tobacco consumption (20%) and dermatological diseases (15.6%). Posterior subcapsular cataract was the most common type of cataract seen among young population and it has been significantly associated with diabetes mellitus. 87.8% had a best corrected visual acuity of 6/6-6/9 after phacoemulsification surgery. In this study diabetes mellitus and tobacco consumption are the two strongest modifiable risk factors for cataractogenesis in younger working population which is mainly because of the lifestyle changes. Majority of the patients attained a good visual acuity post phacoemulsification and IOL implantation surgery.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on ocular disease: KNHANES 2015–2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on ocular diseases and changes in risk factors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2015–2021, a national cross-sectional health examination and survey. Associations between ocular diseases and risk factors were determined using the chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis. Bivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to evaluate of the impact of COVID-19 on ocular diseases. Individuals were divided into two age groups (< 60 and ≥ 60 years). A total of 50,158 people were diagnosed, of whom 7270 were diagnosed with cataract, 921 with glaucoma, and 439 with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Risk factors for cataract were COVID-19 pandemic (OR 1.161), hypertension (OR 1.608), diabetes (OR 1.573), dyslipidemia (OR 1.167), stroke (OR 1.272), and depression (OR 1.567). Risk factors for AMD were COVID-19 pandemic (OR 1.600), dyslipidemia (OR 1.610), and depression (OR 1.466). Risk factors for glaucoma were hypertension (OR 1.234), dyslipidemia (OR 1.529), diabetes (OR 1.323), and depression (OR 1.830). The COVID-19 pandemic was a risk factor for cataracts and AMD, but not for glaucoma. Cataracts and AMD may be more influenced by the acquired health conditions or the environment.

Effectiveness Of Planned Teaching Programme On Preventive Measures Of Cataract Among Adults In Selected Urban Community, Mangalore

A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye affecting vision. Early in the development of age-related cataract the power of the lens may be increased, causing near-sightedness (myopia), and the gradual yellowing and opacification of the lens may reduce the perception of blue colours. Most cataracts are related to aging. Exposure to sunlight may be associated with an increased risk of cataract. Vitamin supplements have shown varying results in delaying the progression of cataract. Globally, there are nearly 45 million blind people. Almost 135 million people are with low vision. A total of nearly 180 million people have some degree of visual disability. Nine of the ten who are blind live in the developing countries. On the current projections, there could be estimated 50 million blind people due to cataract by 202016. Prevalence of cataract in USA is approximately 5.5 million or 2.02%. India is one of the countries that have a sizeable number of visually impaired people17 . The annual incidence of cataract blindness in India is about 3.8 million. Statistics reveal that over 12 million people in the country are visually handicapped. Out of 41.8% of global blindness, 23.5% is contributed by India. Major proportion of total blindness in India (81%) is constituted by cataract18 . In Karnataka prevalence of cataract blindness among the men above the age of fifty is 3.39% and women is 6.51%, in Dakshina Kannada district it is 1.27% for men and 7.65% for women19 . Hence the researcher felt the need to evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching programme on preventive measures of cataract in a selected urban community, Mangalore. Objectives: The purpose of this study was • to determine the level of knowledge on preventive measures of cataract among adults as measured by a structured closed-ended knowledge questionnaire • to determine the effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on preventive measures of cataract among adults • to find the association between the pre-test knowledge scores with selected demographic variables. Research approach and design: A pre-experimental research design of one group pre- and post-test with an evaluative approach was used for this study. Setting: The study was conducted in Jeppu urban community area of Mangalore. Subjects: Adults in the age group of 30-55 years in the selected urban areas of Mangalore Sample size and Sampling technique: The sample for the present study comprised 100 adults in the age group of 30-55 years who met the inclusion criteria The investigator purposely selected the adults who were judged to be a typical population who needs the knowledge related to cataract. Planned teaching programme The planned teaching programme on “preventive measures of cataract.” was developed after an exhaustive review. The content the planned teaching programme included • Introduction • Definition • Eye and lens • Functions of eye • Definition of cataract • Incidence of cataract • Etiological risk factors of cataract • Classification of cataract • Sites of cataract • Clinical manifestations of cataract • Diagnostic measures of cataract • Preventive measures of cataract • Therapeutic regimen in case of diabetes and hypertension • Demonstrate the eye exercises • Conclusion Instrument used: Structured closed-ended knowledge questionnaire on preventive measures of cataract among adults. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics Major findings and reports: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Pre-test assessment revealed that highest percentage (49%) of adults had poor knowledge, 43% had average knowledge, and only 8% had good knowledge. The post-test revealed that 98% had gained very good knowledge, 2% of them gained good knowledge. The total mean percentage of pre-test knowledge score was 43.58% (mean 10.46 ± 3.22) and the mean percentage post-test knowledge score was 92.25% (mean 22.14 ± 1.38) showing an effectiveness of 48.62% (mean 11.68± 2.89). Significance of difference between pre-test and post-test was statistically tested by using paired ‘t’ test and it was found very highly significant (t=40.10, p&lt;0.05). The pretest knowledge score showed association between the pre-test knowledge and previous source of information regarding prevention of cataract but there was no association between pre-test knowledge and age, gender, educational status, occupation and family history of cataract. Conclusion: The findings of the study reveal that adults had inadequate knowledge on preventive measures of cataract; however the knowledge has significantly improved after the Planned Teaching Programme. Hence, it is concluded that PTP was highly effective in improving the knowledge of the adults regarding the preventive measures of cataract.

Vision-Boosting Nutrition: Exploring the Benefits of Nutritional Supplements for Eye Health

Oxidative stress, defined by an imbalance in free radical generation and antioxidant defense, serves as a pivotal risk factor for multiple ocular pathologies, including glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Pattern of eye disease among obese population in Erbil city, Iraq

Background and objective: Obesity is a multifactorial disease. It is a multifactorial pathology that can be related to an altered nutritional behaviour or secondary to genetic, hypothalamic, iatrogenic or endocrine diseases. Obesity and visual acuity are negatively correlated, obesity may be linked to dysfunction of the mechanical and vascular components of the eye. The aim of the study is to find out the impact of obesity on eye health and the pattern of eye disease. Methods: Across-sectional study was conducted in the Ophthalmology Department/ Erbil Teaching Hospital during the period from 1st of August 2021 to 31st of March 2022. A simple random sampling method was adopted, and a total of 300 participants with an age of more than 18 years old were enrolled. Results: The percentage of cataract, glaucoma, age-related maculopathy, papilloedema, keratoconus, and retinal vein occlusion was higher in the case group than in the control group. Obesity is a significant risk factor for cataracts, age-related maculopathy, and papilloedema, while it was insignificant regarding keratoconus and retinal vein occlusion. The mean of internal ocular pressure and central corneal thickness was higher in the case group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The prevalence of ocular disease was higher among the obese population than in those with normal weight. Obesity is a significant risk factor for ocular disease. Age and gender represented additional risk factors in some of the ocular diseases in obese people.

The Synergistic Effects of Polyol Pathway-Induced Oxidative and Osmotic Stress in the Aetiology of Diabetic Cataracts.

Cataracts are the world's leading cause of blindness, and diabetes is the second leading risk factor for cataracts after old age. Despite this, no preventative treatment exists for cataracts. The altered metabolism of excess glucose during hyperglycaemia is known to be the underlying cause of diabetic cataractogenesis, resulting in localised disruptions to fibre cell morphology and cell swelling in the outer cortex of the lens. In rat models of diabetic cataracts, this damage has been shown to result from osmotic stress and oxidative stress due to the accumulation of intracellular sorbitol, the depletion of NADPH which is used to regenerate glutathione, and the generation of fructose metabolites via the polyol pathway. However, differences in lens physiology and the metabolism of glucose in the lenses of different species have prevented the translation of successful treatments in animal models into effective treatments in humans. Here, we review the stresses that arise from hyperglycaemic glucose metabolism and link these to the regionally distinct metabolic and physiological adaptations in the lens that are vulnerable to these stressors, highlighting the evidence that chronic oxidative stress together with osmotic stress underlies the aetiology of human diabetic cortical cataracts. With this information, we also highlight fundamental gaps in the knowledge that could help to inform new avenues of research if effective anti-diabetic cataract therapies are to be developed in the future.

Hypoparathyroidism: A dark horse differential in young age cataracts

In India, cataracts account for the lion’s share of cases of blindness. Age is still the single most important risk factor for cataracts. Cataracts in the young adult age group are less common and are usually secondary to various local and systemic conditions. The aetiology may be a challenging one to ascertain in certain cases of young-age cataracts. A rapidly developing cataract in a young age individual may further add to the diagnostic dilemma especially when the patient presents with multi-system affection necessitating the widening of the horizons of suspected local and systemic pathologies at play. Therefore, we report a case of a 25-year-old lady who presented with a history of seizures, headache, disc oedema and progressive bilateral blurring of vision due to rapidly developing cataracts over 4 months in a case of primary hypoparathyroidism. Correction of the underlying abnormalities resulted in the resolution of disc oedema and headache. Furthermore, the patient had no episodes of seizures in the 1½ years of follow-up. In addition, full visual recovery was achieved after bilateral cataract surgery. Awareness of this rare presentation can help in the early diagnosis and evaluation of cataracts, besides correction of the systemic pathologies for an overall better patient outcome.

Sex-specific social, lifestyle, and physical health risk factors in cataracts development.

Cataract is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. However, little is known about sex differences in cataracts. Our study aimed to explore potential sex differences in the relationships between key social, lifestyle, and physical health risk factors and the incidence of cataracts. A total of 117,972 participants from the UK Biobank were included in this prospective cohort study. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and female-to-male ratios of HRs (RHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cataract risk factors. Poisson regression was used to assess the incidence of cataracts (per 10,000 person-years). A total of 117,972 individuals without preexisting eye diseases were enroled in the analysis. 4172 subjects (54.8% female) were diagnosed with cataracts during follow-up. The crude incidence rates per 10,000 person-years were 35.06 for females and 29.15 for males. The incidence of cataracts increased in both males and females with factors such as Asian or Black ethnicity, smoking status, obesity, diabetes, and myopia. However, males who consumed alcohol or were unemployed suffered a greater risk of cataracts compared to their female counterparts, while high socioeconomic status, elevated blood pressure and metabolic syndrome were associated with a greater risk of cataracts in females than in males. This study provides a comprehensive overview of sex differences in the associations between cataracts and various risk factors. Our findings highlight that socioeconomic and lifestyle risk factors are more strongly linked to cataract risk in males, whereas females with systemic diseases face a greater risk of developing cataract.

Nationwide incidence of and risk factors for undergoing incisional glaucoma surgery following infantile cataract surgery

Nationwide incidence and risk factors for incisional glaucoma surgery post-infantile cataract (IC) surgery in children remain poorly understood. We conducted a population-based cohort study using the Korean national health claims database to identify IC patients diagnosed before age 1 who had IC surgery among all Korean born between 2008 and 2018 (n = 9,593,003). We estimated the annual occurrence of undergoing incisional glaucoma surgery following IC surgery in the general population aged 0–10. The risk factors for incisional surgery including systemic comorbidities and ophthalmic anomalies were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Of 650 patients who had undergone IC surgery with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) follow-up period of 6.2 (3.2) years, 92 (14.2%) were diagnosed with glaucoma following infantile cataract surgery (GFICS). Among them, 21 patients (22.8%) underwent incisional glaucoma surgery after a mean (SD) follow-up duration of 5.4 (2.8) years from the diagnosis of GFICS. Median (InterQuartile Range) age at incisional surgery was 4 (2,6) years old. Twenty of 21 patients (95.2%) underwent incisional glaucoma surgery within 3 years of diagnosis of GFICS. No factors, except younger age at glaucoma diagnosis (P = 0.03), were associated with undergoing incisional surgery. These findings can better understand the epidemiologic features and clinical courses of GFICS.

Research progress on the correlation between cataract occurrence and nutrition.

Cataract is a common eye disease characterized by lens opacity, leading to blurred vision and progressive blindness of the eye. Factors affecting the development of cataracts include nutrition, oxidative stress, micronutrients and inflammatory factors, and also include genetics, toxicity, infrared exposure, hyperuricemia, and mechanical injuries. Among the nutritional factors, a balanced diet, vegetarian diet, dairy products and vegetables are protective against cataracts; high-sodium diet, high intake of carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty acids may increase the risk of cataracts; and increased intake of proteins, especially animal proteins, may prevent nuclear cataracts. Intake of antioxidants such as β-carotene, lutein, or zeaxanthin is associated with a reduced risk of cataracts. Minerals such as zinc, selenium, calcium and sodium have also been associated with cataract development. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of cataracts and is associated with several antioxidative enzymes and biomarkers such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). Insulin resistance is also an essential risk factor for cataracts, especially in diabetic patients. In conclusion, understanding these influencing factors helps us to better prevent cataracts. And in this article, we will focus on the important factor of diet and nutrition for a detailed discussion.

Be aware of cataracts following Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV): what should be considered?

Background: Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV) is a vitreoretinal surgical technique that allows access to the posterior part of the eye, with an average of 225,000 vitrectomies performed annually in the United States. However, there is an incline with the number of cataract formation as a complication following PPV surgery. In a study in the UK involving 2000 eyes after the PPV procedure, the risk of cataracts was found to be 40%, and 52% of patients would undergo cataract surgery within the first year. The development of cataracts after PPV is associated with several risk factors; however, the risk factors for developing cataracts are still unclear. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted regarding the risk factors for developing cataracts after PPV. Methods: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were identified through an electronic systematic search of PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane Central (Wiley), Scopus (Elsevier), manual searching, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The search keywords used were related to “cataract”, “pars plana vitrectomy”, and “risk factor” using the Boolean operator AND and OR. We limited the studies from 2013 until 2023. All studies that discussed cataract risk factors after PPV surgery using English language will be included. Result: From 495 studies, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included 6 studies with a total sample of 2.902 eyes. Risk factors associated with cataracts after PPV surgery were preoperative (older age, RRD with involvement of macular, lens status) and intraoperative (type of tamponade). It took 24 months after PPV surgery for the patient to undergo cataract surgery. Conclusion: Preoperative conditions and surgical intervention might affect the formation and progression of cataracts. Therefore, an ophthalmologist should consider several risk factors for cataract formation after PPV.

Aqueous humor perturbations in chronic smokers: a proteomic study

The detrimental effects of smoking are multisystemic and its effects on the eye health are significant. Smoking is a strong risk factor for age-related nuclear cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, delayed corneal epithelial healing and increased risk of cystoid macular edema in patients with intermediate uveitis among others. We aimed to characterize the aqueous humor (AH) proteome in chronic smokers to gain insight into its perturbations and to identify potential biomarkers for smoking-associated ocular pathologies. Compared to the control group, chronic smokers displayed 67 (37 upregulated, 30 downregulated) differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Analysis of DEPs from the biological point of view revealed that they were proteins involved in complement activation, lymphocyte mediated immunity, innate immune response, cellular oxidant detoxification, bicarbonate transport and platelet degranulation. From the molecular function point of view, DEPs were involved in oxygen binding, oxygen carrier activity, hemoglobin binding, peptidase/endopeptidase/cysteine-type endopeptidase inhibitory activity. Several of the upregulated proteins were acute phase reactant proteins such as clusterin, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, fibrinogen, alpha-1-antitrypsin, C4b-binding protein and serum amyloid A-2. Further research should confirm if these proteins might serve as biomarkers or therapeutic target for smoking-associated ocular diseases.

Genetic correlation between circulating cytokines and risk of three ophthalmic diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Pathogenesis and the associated risk factors of cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remain unclear. We aimed to investigate causal relationships between circulating cytokine levels and the development of these diseases. Genetic instrumental variables for circulating cytokines were derived from a genome-wide association study of 8293 European participants. Summary-level data for AMD, glaucoma, and senile cataract were obtained from the FinnGen database. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) was the main Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis method. The Cochran's Q, MR-Egger regression, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test were used for sensitivity analysis. Based on the IVW method, MR analysis demonstrated five circulating cytokines suggestively associated with AMD (SCGF-β, 1.099 [95%CI, 1.037-1.166], P = 0.002; SCF, 1.155 [95%CI, 1.015-1.315], P = 0.029; MCP-1, 1.103 [95%CI, 1.012-1.202], P = 0.026; IL-10, 1.102 [95%CI, 1.012-1.200], P = 0.025; eotaxin, 1.086 [95%CI, 1.002-1.176], P = 0.044), five suggestively linked with glaucoma (MCP-1, 0.945 [95%CI, 0.894-0.999], P = 0.047; IL1ra, 0.886 [95%CI, 0.809-0.969], P = 0.008; IL-1β, 0.866 [95%CI, 0.762-0.983], P = 0.027; IL-9, 0.908 [95%CI, 0.841-0.980], P = 0.014; IL2ra, 1.065 [95%CI, 1.004-1.130], P = 0.035), and four suggestively associated with senile cataract (TRAIL, 1.043 [95%CI, 1.009-1.077], P = 0.011; IL-16, 1.032 [95%CI, 1.001-1.064], P = 0.046; IL1ra, 0.942 [95%CI, 0.887-0.999], P = 0.047; FGF-basic, 1.144 [95%CI, 1.052-1.244], P = 0.002). Furthermore, sensitivity analysis results supported the above associations. This study highlights the involvement of several circulating cytokines in the development ophthalmic diseases and holds potential as viable pharmacological targets for these diseases.

Faktor Risiko Katarak di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Astambul, Kabupaten Banjar, Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia

Background. Indonesia has the highest prevalence of blindness in Southeast Asia; 81.2% are caused by cataracts. The prevalence of cataract blindness in South Kalimantan was 87.9%. Risk factors for cataracts include age, sex, comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, steroid use, history of smoking, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This study aims to determine the risk factors and incidence of cataracts in the area of Astambul Community Health Center. Method. An observational analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. Primary data from January-February 2023 was collected from health center, posbindu and elderly posyandu visits. The data was analyzed with a chi square test. Results. p-value for age was p=0,046, gender p=0,251, occupation p=0,027, diabetes mellitus p=0,028, and hypertension p=0,023. Conclusion. A significant relationship between cataract incidence and age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and occupation. There is no significant relationship between cataract incidence and gender.

Perspective of Cataract and Oxidative Stress

One of the main causes of blindness is the multifactorial condition known as cataract. It is believed that oxidative stress plays a significant role in starting the cataractogenesis process. Today, it is a well-established fact that oxidative stress plays a role in both diabetes-induced cataract (diabetic) and age-related cataract (senile). The most likely cause of oxidative damage to the lens is a compromised antioxidant defense system brought on by age and diabetes-related increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The main factor contributing to cataract formation is systemic oxidative stress, which is produced externally to the lens. An imbalance between pro- and antioxidant-oxidants leads to oxidative stress. It is essential to eliminate hazardous free radicals because they are a byproduct of normal metabolism. Globally, cataracts are the primary cause of blindness. Oxidative stress is the direct cause of the lens’s opacity. Although age is the main cause of cataracts, diabetes is also a common cause, as higher superoxide levels in the mitochondria arise from hyperglycemia. This review will look into ultraviolet (UV) light, diabetes, and diet (fat, alcohol, and vitamins) as risk factors for cataracts.

Lens Cytoskeleton: An Update on the Etiopathogenesis of Human Cataracts.

A cataract is a loss of the transparency of a normal crystalline lens. Multiple factors, including age as the major risk factor for cataracts, can disturb the transparency of the crystalline lens due to cumulative damage from environmental insults to proteins, particularly crystallins. Lens proteins do not turnover, and crystallins undergo extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs) with age in order to interact with each other and maintain their soluble basis for lens transparency. These PTMs include truncation, oxidation, deamidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and glycosylation. Cataract formation, apart from protein PTMs, involves protein crosslinking, protein insolubilization, and aggregation. Oxidation is a key feature in age-related cataract formation. Due to the role of genetic and environmental factors, as well as its variable clinical presentation, we consider cataracts to be a multifactorial disease. The preliminary results of our study indicate that proteins implicated in the pathway of a structural constituent of the eye lens (BFSP1, BFSP2, CRYAA, CRYAB, CRYBA, CRYBB, CRYGC, CRYGD, CRYGS, KRTs, and VIM), together with AQP1 and AQP5, may also be involved in lens aging.

Prevalence and Analysis of Risk Factors for Cataracts in Jember Regency, Indonesia

Introduction: Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness. This study aims to determine the prevalence of cataracts and analyze the risk factors for cataracts in Jember Regency.&#x0D; Methods: The research design is observational research with a cross-sectional approach. The study carried out eye examinations on 1000 adults (≥50 years) who were randomly selected in Jember Regency. Risk factors analyzed included age, gender, education, occupation, smoking, and history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of cataracts in Jember Regency is 25.3%. Risk factors associated with the incidence of cataracts are age (OR=1.35; 95%CI: 1.02-1.98), female gender (OR=1.54; 95%CI: 1.12-2.13), low education (OR=1.83; 95%CI: 1.22-2.73), outdoor work (OR=3.72; 95%CI: 1.14-5.58), smoking (OR=1.42; 95%CI: 1.01-2.00), and history of diabetes mellitus (OR=2.15; 95%CI: 1.43-3.24).&#x0D; Conclusion: The prevalence of cataracts at ages ≥ 50 years in Jember Regency is quite high. Age, female gender, low education, outdoor work, smoking, and a history of diabetes mellitus are risk factors for cataracts.

ORAL CORTICOSTEROIDS AND THE LONG-TERM RISK OF CATARACT: A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: A cataract can lead to visual deterioration, resulting in reduced vision capacity and partial or complete reversible vision loss. The most commonly associated risk factors for cataract include aging, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and some medications such as glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are utilized in a variety of disorders, as long- and short-term, treatment such as topical ocular steroid usage, allergic rhinitis and inflammatory bowel disease as a result, the chance of cataract may increase and put a significant burden in countries. The aim: This study aims to show about oral corticosteroids and the long-term risk of cataract. Methods: By comparing itself to the standards set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020, this study was able to show that it met all of the requirements. So, the experts were able to make sure that the study was as up-to-date as it was possible to be. For this search approach, publications that came out between 2014 and 2024 were taken into account. Several different online reference sources, like Pubmed and SagePub, were used to do this. It was decided not to take into account review pieces, works that had already been published, or works that were only half done. Result: In the PubMed database, the results of our search brought up 79 articles, whereas the results of our search on SagePub brought up 208 articles, on Google Scholar brought up 26.000 articles. The results of the search conducted for the last year of 2014 yielded a total 25 articles for PubMed, 73 articles for SagePub, and 18.000 articles for Google Scholar. The result based on title screening, a total 2 articles for PubMed, 36 articles for SagePub, and 397 for Google Scholar. In the end, we get a total of 10 papers. We included five research that suitable the criteria. Conclusion: Using glucocorticoids either as inhaler and/or orally will increase the risk and prevalence of posterior subcapsular cataract and other ocular complications such as glaucoma.