BioMed Central
XK 3]AYH Page 1 of 7
hN4VlNKu (page number not for citation purposes)
q
@ Kk\m BMC Ophthalmology
7u%a/ < Research article Open Access
4UCwT1 Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
hYvNcOSks population-based surveys 6 years apart
g5R,% 6 Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
CM 9P"- Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
g37q/nEv Westmead, NSW, Australia
5-p.MGso Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
?vu|o'$T, Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au A^pW]r=Xtk * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
oeNzHp_ Abstract
agY5Dg7 Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
h
PPB45^ subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
P3$,ca' Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
^gm>!-Gx cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
5^F]tRz- cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
1l]C5P}E photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
G^KC&
cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
u{+!&
2}k Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
R92R}=G! who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
YKq0f=Ij 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
!w=,p.?V= an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
`e*61k5 two surveys.
QT_^M1% Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
BvI 0v: prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
[0(mFMC` prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
/#IH-2N the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
{r{>?)O prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
]Da4.s*mW Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
u7 u~ distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
S| "
TP\o The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
uH]
m]t Background
Cn/q= Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
DCK_F8 impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
q06@SD$
estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
'F<Sf:?.p affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
U5clQiow aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
dL(4mR8 for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
th90O|; be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
qAbd xd[ Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
(Otur most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
4NI'(#l cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
WSSaZ9
= Published: 20 April 2006
rSbQ}O4V BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
Qv74?B@ Received: 14 December 2005
Mi;Tn;3er Accepted: 20 April 2006
Hj1k-Bs&'w This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 s7AI:Zv © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
w[|y0jtw This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
`}ZL'\G which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
,qYf#fU#7 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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sAf9rZt*' (page number not for citation purposes)
Mru~<:9 of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
hg!x_Eq| in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
$F<%Jl7_Z Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
<'V
A=orD increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
0;'j!`l9 fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
*?s/Ho &' from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
wX@H
&)<s The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
P:jDB{ years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
01'y^`\xQ Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
uF.Q " ,< increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
Ug%<b 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
wbn^R' population-based samples with a similar age range
-Cg`x=G;z [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
/vMQF+ would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
"tEj`eR and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
J{aQ1) benefits to a greater number of older people and an
&E} I increased number of persons with surgery performed on
AEi WL.*. both eyes.
)*"T Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
7uWJ6Wk link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
m4wPuW surgery and eye health care provision. This report
i7Y
s_8A"9 aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
IptB.bYc and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
&\CJg'D:m (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
3'|Uqf8 surveys 6 years apart.
ez{P-qB Methods
#RCZA4> The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
oAIY=z cohort study of common eye diseases and other
g6x/f<2x health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
JNU"5sB residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
W)G2Cs?p areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
::^qy^n Participants were identified through a census and were
s8`}x _k= invited to participate. The study was approved at each
)&b}^1 stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
kMfc"JXF of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
'qD'PLV Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
(9WL+S of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
(Von;U was obtained from each participant.
s=
-WB0E Details of the methods used in this study have been
nm{'HH-4 described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
|IyM"UH (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
-$sl!%HO% 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
iMOPD}`IX Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
T6/$pJ
l during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
\S|VkPv cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
(Fjs
N5 the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
=Ov;'MC newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
|)|vG_ eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
O|^6UH this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
oJ4mxi@|# BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
5W:Gl?$S} and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
k`iq<b Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
$@ T6g
at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
n41\y:CAo including demographic, family and medical history. A
^)%wq@Hi detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
<Vr]2mw slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
]
fwTi(4y Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
LzEE]i Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
x9{Sl[2& lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
C7fi
1~ previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
+gD)Yd performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
o}AqNw60v Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
9cw4tqTm were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
?[L0LL?ce estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
no\}aTx Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
+=29y@c involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
yrK--
C8 when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
Ig?.*j ] Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
)lngef
/D_ using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
][>M<J [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
~1wdAq`'a was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
M@
LaD 5 was defined to include persons who had previous
iw]BQjK cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
me}Gb a types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
,*}g
r kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
X-2S*L' for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
ZZ.0' reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
J/P@m_Yx simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
0.+Z;j nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
W0?Y%Da(4m by an ophthalmologist (PM).
5)zh@aJ@ In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
'r?HL;,q ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
Jv{"R!e"P available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
=x.v*W]F` while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
"62Ysapq+ Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
<n2{+eO 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
v.^
'x assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
63dtO{:4 with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
@.
]K6qC cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
)1yUV*6 between the two groups, as reported previously
`::(jW.KO [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
g#<?OFl or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
Cq;K,B9 cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
BMsy}08dQ missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
LVcy.kU@] for nuclear cataract assessment.
{aa,#B]i Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
xA1pDrfC/ System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
Gqz)=' prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
hE`%1j2( the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
\]:NOmI^' We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
U,3K6AZA 7 interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
L5|;VH group were independent between the two cross-sectional
2i'-lM= surveys.
\c^jaK5 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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hn
Lgsz (page number not for citation purposes)
Y%cA2V\#m Results
P*=3$-` Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
b0Cao
SWo previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
#Lt+6sa]2@ distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
lSv;wwEg characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
c] 9CN II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
ill' KPy hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
[*E.G~IS` Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
~l(tl[ shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
^7<m lr was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
EF{'J8AQ respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
/'^>-!8_1 prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
6y!?xot (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
Mp}NUQHE increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
gxtbu$ cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
AsF`A"Cdw< period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
W%QtJB1) (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
Gl:T was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
rZ4<*Zegv I and II, respectively).
Pu*UZcXY After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
J~`%Nj
5> stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
ee[NZz surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
Y\S^DJy prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
,QAp5I%3= not altered.
Oj\mkg Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
e!'u{>u cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
6;V1PK>9 II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
m(]
IxI increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
?MB nnyo6 both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
^C
T}i' between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
"b7C0NE cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
b;ZAz
years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
^<+heX in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
TnAX;+u 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
(LPD consistent between the two surveys, except for a
6GvnyJ{[ reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
7?#32B
Gr and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
4
tTJE<y years).
@U5>w\ Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
mr.DP~O:9p observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
DJUtuex cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
4f,x@:Jw but the difference was only significant for cortical
lNAHn<ht cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
i(rY'o2 BN 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
$vz%
and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
=Y[Ae7e Table 1: Participant characteristics.
N4-J !r@#~ Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
U 7?ez n % n %
F{tSfKy2 Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
#CmBgxg+M 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
?Q2pD!L{ 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
@Iu-F4YT 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
W9"I++~f 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
*Cw2 h 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
t;3.; 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
ow"Xv 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
Y2EN!{YU 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
M='Kjc>e 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
qZe"'"3M Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
Ip0q&i<6 Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
$}fA;BP Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
|sz9l/,lG History of:
.EO1{2= Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
_L":Wux Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
"Cb<~Dy
Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
~A/_\- Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
iY-dM(_:] Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
HV@:!zM n = number of persons affected
Hik[pV
K@ * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
c+=&5=i[3 ^ P < 0.01
Fm"$W^H BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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q@:&^CS (page number not for citation purposes)
YVT^}7# t
}8HLyK,4 rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
,tZwXP{ in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
7
<xxOY>y (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
\!r^6'A and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
`
;;!>rm Discussion
{\B!Rjt[T Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
#^Y,,GA with similar age and gender distribution showed
c,@6MeKHq that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
ZAE;$pkP stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
H|Ems}b to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
{F j`'0Xu; with totally independent samples within each age group,
)7^jq| confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
ze-iDd_y survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
$IHa]9 { the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
EO
5Vg same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
157X0&EX reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
y3x_B@}BY variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
c0@v`-9 may have contributed to the observed difference
5q\]] LV> in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
C<3An_Dy Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
V{][{
5SR Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
6Pz\6DU,I n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
Pu=YQ
#F' Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
K$4Ky&89
55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
Af;$
}P 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
j9%=^ZoQj 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
>1YJETysO 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
/wQDcz 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
oZQu&
O' 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
Z',pQ{rD 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
3o h(d.Z 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
&W1cc#( PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
T!8,R{V]4 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
RJ`F2b sYN 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
Kg56.$ 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
:p89J\ 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
zFlW\wc 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
e7-U0rrE 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
Au9Rr3n 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
T{Av[>M 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
'Je;3"@ Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
HN\9d 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
yTv#T(of 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
3{CXIS 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
"~XAD(T6 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
(<|,LagTuc 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
-GH>12YP 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
!Eu}ro.} 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
Tv!zqx#E 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
r3'0{Nn+ n = number of persons
G@s
rQum( * 95% Confidence Limits
*y0TtEd; Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
/C}u,dBf Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
b-,4< H8m Mountains Eye Study.
+JsMYv 0
\<TWy&2& 10
y2KR^/LN|Y 20
OQ&l/|{O0? 30
G
.NGS%v 40
}"Clv/3_ 50
1aDx 6Mq cortical PSC nuclear any
$i1$nc8 cataract
g=n{G@ *N Cataract type
g%TOYZr!X %
xPCRT
*Pd Cross-section I
A`
71L V% Cross-section II
lha)4d BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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jl9hFubwW (page number not for citation purposes)
!y+uQ_IS@ prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
5/8=Do]( relatively stable over the 6-year period.
Np7+g`nG Although different population-based studies used different
OYSq)!: grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
B`|f"+. prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
,<k%'a!B
different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
H-\Ym}BGu
suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
9fm9xTL of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
#lR-?Uh other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
1oe,>\\ prevalent type [12,21-23].
F/ x2}' Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
A3)"+`&PUl 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
LTxP@pr age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
)xq=V prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
47N,jVt4 same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
&(oA/jFQ thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
\3OEC` surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
BmKf%:l} A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
VCfHm"'E8 over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
v4<W57oH definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
2xf#@`U prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
( <YBvpt4> level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
L&c
&
<+0T than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
Qo)Da}uo20 groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
3CgID6[Sy likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
b{qN7X~> with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
<pfl>Uf that functional vision and reading performance were high
h;,1BpbM in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
6#7hMQ0&;O cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
[3"F$?e5 (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
>MJ#|vO overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
?TeozhUY was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
0KnL{Cj to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
g'KxjjYT, nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
||JUP}eP than the other two types of cataract. This could have
tPQ|znB| resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
VxBBZsZO~ to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
dpTsTU!\ prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
5]>*0#C
S more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
._^}M<o L of any cataract.
n74\{`8]o Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
Sp492W+ among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
7b+r LyS0 of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
:a6LfPEAX assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
UB.1xcI both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
4d`YZNvZW/ assessment of temporal changes.
_;BwP Measurement error could also have partially contributed
I)rO| to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
}:m/@LKB Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
=SXdO)%2 potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
0n{.96r0R variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
sq!$+
=1-X slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
q7X#LY k grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
{1)A"lQu camera and the same two graders who graded photos
B+K6(^j,,y from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
xj3qOx$ of a partial influence from photographic variation
!&{rnK on this result.
9B!Sv/)y!r A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
QWk3y"
5n< than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
rP:g
`?*V both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
HU'Mi8xxy from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
s*k)h,\ Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
t>[W]%op Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
wM+1/[7 could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
} ?j5V study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
sp,-JZD lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
YNr"]SA@ ; cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
M7TLQqaF factors were detected and no gender difference
/'sv7hg+ was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
$ln8Cpbca in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
d=D-s levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
>Uw:cq women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
!Y ,7% Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
xDo0bR(
Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
1&|]8=pG7 n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
*?FVLE Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
Fi/iA%, Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
NoiB98g PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
,8e'<y Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
aJ'Fn Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
#AJW-+1g.= Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
W_W !v&@E= n = number of persons
RlOy,/-< * 95% Confidence Limits
BJjic% V BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 @IL04' \ Page 6 of 7
`?z('FV (page number not for citation purposes)
ciblj?"Wi cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
y\T$) XGV prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
riIubX# exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
`NIb?
/!f or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
zG9FO/@av also be related to these observations and warrant further
r8EJ@pOF2w study.
1CC0]pyHX Conclusion
w){B$X In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
`i`P}W!F apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
dcf,a<K\ of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
o<nM-"yWb overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
^T&{ORWz 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
fEBi'Ad reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
JN
8Rh Competing interests
c}@E@Y`@w The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
z4YDngf=4 Authors' contributions
\'2rs152 AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
sVh)Ofn and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
bc(MN8b ]j photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
g:!U,<C^a ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
z};|.N} reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
\|>%/P study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
~i1
jh:, and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
X5o*8Bg4M approved the final manuscript.
vv)q&,<c Acknowledgements
N^QxqQ~
This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
vd%AV(]<LJ Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
2*sTU abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
a<-aE4wdm (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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