October 17, 2012
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Los Angeles Latino Eye Study links lens opacity to older age, diabetes and smoking

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Better management of diabetes and not smoking may lower the risk of developing nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular lens opacities, according to a study.

The study included data on 3,471 subjects aged 40 years or older with no baseline lens opacities. Data were culled from the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.

Investigators examined visual acuity and Lens Opacities Classification System II scores for nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular opacities at baseline and at 4 years.

At 4 years, 200 subjects had incident nuclear-only lens opacities, 141 had incident cortical-only lens opacities, 16 had incident posterior subcapsular-only lens opacities, and 88 had mixed lens opacities.

Independent baseline risk factors for nuclear-only lens opacities were older age (P < .0001), smoking (P = .01) and diabetes (P = .05).

Independent risk factors for cortical-only lens opacities were older age (P < .0001) and diabetes at baseline (P < .0001).

Female gender was an independent risk factor for posterior subcapsular-only lens opacities (P = .02).

Older age (P < .0001) and diabetes at baseline (P < .0001) were independent risk factors for mixed lens opacities.