Increasing incidence of cataract a ‘major’ public health concern

The trend toward an increasing incidence of cataract with the aging of the population worldwide is “a major public health concern,” according to researchers in Australia’s Visual Impairment Project.

Bickol N. Mukesh, PhD, and colleagues recruited 3,721 participants from nine urban districts in the Victoria region of Australia to determine the incidence of cataract development and the associated risk factors. All participants were followed for 5 years. Lens opacities were graded clinically and from photographs. Risk factors were assessed for the development of cortical, nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataracts. Risk exposure at baseline was used as the main determinant of future development; baseline factors included sociodemographic, dietary, familial, medical and ocular characteristics of the participants.

Increased age was a risk factor for all three types of cataract, and there was an increasing risk trend throughout life for nuclear cataract, the researchers said. Current cigarette smokers and a family or personal history of arthritis were found to be independent risk factors for developing nuclear cataract. Diabetes and taking calcium channel blockers for more than 5 years were deemed independent risk factors for posterior subcapsular cataract.

“Among the risk factors identified, cigarette smoking is a factor that is readily modifiable and preventable,” the authors said. “The other risk factors identified require further support or clarification of underlying mechanisms to find modifiable features.”

The study is published in the January issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.