BioMed Central
{k>m5L Page 1 of 7
/<5/gV 1Q (page number not for citation purposes)
Q"\[ICu!, BMC Ophthalmology
ITTC} Research article Open Access
F!U+IztZ Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
#Ew}@t9 population-based surveys 6 years apart
+r ' Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
&*0V!+#6 Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
#nnP.t m Westmead, NSW, Australia
I".r`$XZ Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
M@.1P<:h Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au A%Ao yy4E * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
I6UZ_H'E Abstract
FT=w`NE,+ Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
xv
/w
% subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
y|X[NSA Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
pB )nQ5l' cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
`XTu$+ cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
y- g5`@ photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
he/FtkU cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
HYtkSsXLN Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
=U?"# who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
EF}Z+7A 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
.n"aQ@! an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
o zv><e# two surveys.
H -`7T;t~ Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
zd+8fP/UB prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
z[v MO% prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
8c#u"qF the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
C8i}
~x< prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
;]|
Z8#s Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
2 3 P7~S distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
^oj)#
(3C The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
IGVNX2 Background
e1K,4Bq Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
7\5;;23N4 impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
TR]~r2z estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
3nxJ`W5j affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
Wl}d6ZTm aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
JhIgqW2 for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
kE=}. be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
10{ZW@!7 Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
,qyH B2v most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
MWu67">" cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
e!Y:UB2
7u Published: 20 April 2006
<S%M*j BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
[<7Hy,xr_ Received: 14 December 2005
\2@OS6LUe Accepted: 20 April 2006
O:WFh;c This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 3w#kvtDVm © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
S8^W)XgC; This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
\|R P-8 which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
kTt;3 Ia BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 :VX?j3qW Page 2 of 7
.|;`qUo (page number not for citation purposes)
}mzM'9JH of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
TeSF
in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
HI*xk
Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
iZyhj%# increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
LSS3(l[,: fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
9K-=2hvv from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
3~iIo&NZ The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
VnAJOR7lrx years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
< {$zOF} Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
u(S~V+<@Z increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
?KDI'>"-v 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
/:iO:g1 population-based samples with a similar age range
E
w~piuj [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
Ii_X^)IL( would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
BrcT`MM[(= and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
dcew`$SJp benefits to a greater number of older people and an
* _ {w0U) increased number of persons with surgery performed on
7+ QD=j- both eyes.
qc;9{$?xV Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
OsAH!e link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
~ x-
R78' surgery and eye health care provision. This report
of!Bz aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
-*t4(wT|j and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
zcnp?% (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
8(J&_7
u surveys 6 years apart.
,g\%P5 Methods
_7Z|=) The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
('BFy>@ cohort study of common eye diseases and other
gx~79;6 health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
A
SME~]]? residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
-F\xZ areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
'S]7:/CI Participants were identified through a census and were
R%B"Gtl) invited to participate. The study was approved at each
hqOy*!8'@ stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
Y?G\@6 of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
S3EM6 `q' Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
j}}:&>; of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
e%.Xya#\ was obtained from each participant.
FaS}$-0 Details of the methods used in this study have been
G&8)5d[ described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
H6i4>U* (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
6M^P]l 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
y\Su!?4! Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
4pNIsjl} during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
ZuF"GNUC cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
}NX9"}/ the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
?M?S+@( newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
IRy!8A=X eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
m]LR4V6k| this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
a|aRUxa0" BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
LS1r}cl and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
f%r0K6p Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
ND);7 at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
Z(g9rz']0 including demographic, family and medical history. A
4?Mb>\n%<^ detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
"XQj~L slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
rzmd`)g Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
QUa_gYp0v Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
c6zghP3dR lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
Ml &Cr previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
nsO! performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
jET$wKw% Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
m(Hb! RT were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
kaSi sjd estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
yO@KjCv" Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
kz4d"bTb involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
LR :Qb]|" when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
j1{@? Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
^A9D;e6!- using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
:4o08M% [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
\W^Mo>l was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
?sF<L/P0
F was defined to include persons who had previous
+h!OdWD9 cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
{/f\lS.5g types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
t- Rp_2t kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
;Od;q]G7L for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
q2qbbQ6H reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
YS$?Wz simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
o_un=ygU nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
`1I@tz| by an ophthalmologist (PM).
Ave{ `YD In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
3:q\]]]S ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
P\"|b\O1 available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
YXD6GJWo while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
%m\dNUz4g Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
vfW 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
JXR_klx assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
4AI\'M"d with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
ZzDE cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
/mELnJ^ between the two groups, as reported previously
],rtSUO [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
]6wo]nV[P or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
T~I5W=y cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
>BC?%|l missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
z6B(}(D for nuclear cataract assessment.
8=
jl]q$< Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
x"kc:F System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
INQ0h `T prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
x Bn+-V the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
rDNz<{evj We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
79:Wo>C3- interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
YmP`Gg#>p group were independent between the two cross-sectional
& i,on6 surveys.
<I.anIB:U BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 cnm&oC 6 Page 3 of 7
^WDAW#f*< (page number not for citation purposes)
2#z 6= M~A Results
0i}4T:J@` Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
%U]_1"d,<\ previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
nZ?BCO distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
K-Bf=7F, characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
F,0@z/8a II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
A^+G
w\ hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
D3#/*Ky Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
+hdD*}qauC shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
Uf^zA/33 was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
ZM oV!lu respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
[uxhdR`T prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
*@'4 A :A (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
g0
ec- increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
XCU.tWR: cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
f$a%&X6"- period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
@vWC "W (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
f(.@]eu
X was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
h4CDZ I and II, respectively).
(p<QRb:&Z After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
JlAUie8 stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
'0g1v7Gx surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
82Fq}N
< prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
XHuY'\;- not altered.
-|^}~yOx0= Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
O@[c*3]e cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
6|U0"C#] II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
X%"P0P increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
gd'#K~? both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
Xv3u}nPMq between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
hNB;29r~ cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
kYBTmz}z years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
MdK!Y in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
"'H$YhY] 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
]T\K-;i consistent between the two surveys, except for a
]#]m_+} Z reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
{=
Dtajz and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
L%`~`3%n- years).
cSCO7L2E18 Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
@O+yxGA observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
)#[?pYd cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
21GjRPs\ but the difference was only significant for cortical
g[Ah>
5 cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
gT-'#K2qT 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
qdh;zAMx and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
!> b>"\b Table 1: Participant characteristics.
iaXNf
])? Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
+Y(cs&V* n % n %
bO1J#bcZ Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
:gDIGBK, 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
QE}S5#_" 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
=[(1u|H9 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
1g9Qvz3 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
'#$%f 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
:s+AIo6 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
jV8mn{< 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
ZgF-.(GV 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
YQ X+lE 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
%]nYv#K Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
kt%9PGw Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
sp0&"&5 Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
nH}api^0A History of:
-"u}lCz> Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
im9
B=D Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
'?t]iRCeI7 Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
i0 {pm q Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
o,9E~Q '`{ Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
hJ.XG<?]$ n = number of persons affected
~6.AE/ow * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
Ks@S5:9sp ^ P < 0.01
K6~N{:.s BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 *ntq;] Page 4 of 7
'cy35M (page number not for citation purposes)
O7ceSz t
15VOQE5Fl` rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
mA(K`"Bfh in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
(FbqKx'uq (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
d]VL(& and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
ncb?iJ/b^ Discussion
+`kfcA#pi Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
vmAMlgZ8{< with similar age and gender distribution showed
DF%\1C> that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
kLR4?tX! stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
LT!B]y to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
v~q2D"
with totally independent samples within each age group,
eJilSFp1 confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
+
htTrHjt survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
G5ebb6[+ the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
o;
{
same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
->6/L) reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
uT8/xNB! variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
n*CH,fih: may have contributed to the observed difference
Ul^/Dh in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
3^q,'!PfB Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
i]Lt8DiRq Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
cn v4!c0 n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
v#a`*^ ^ Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
gZ%B9i: 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
W tnZF]1:u 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
rhMsZ={M 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
<>A:Oi3^ 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
zKe&*tZ 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
dD1`[% 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
N$M#3Y; 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
^ox^gw) 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
gq*- v:P> PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
j,80EhZ 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
4
`Z @^W 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
ro6|N?' 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
}el.
qZ 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
oylY1~~}0K 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
VW<s_ 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
QN9$n%Z 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
R,C)|*ef 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
a^< Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
@BbZ(cZ* 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
:&mYz(1q 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
^
b~&}uU 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
HelC_%#^ 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
5z~Ji77! 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
ZD6rD(l9 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
KwN o/x|
v 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
O_nk8 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
`)`_G!a n = number of persons
l$z[Vh^UU< * 95% Confidence Limits
rFM`ne<zh Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
COOazXtW Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
jZ7/p ^c5R Mountains Eye Study.
?;0=>3p*0 0
*ys@'Ai? 10
?Mp~^sgp' 20
N:)`+}
30
!w[<?+%%n 40
/SY40;k: 50
oB-&ma[ZS cortical PSC nuclear any
q+x4Od3 cataract
MnO,Cd6{%d Cataract type
82~UI'f \ %
rnIv|q6@ Cross-section I
kN`[Q$B Cross-section II
?Gp~i] BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 X@b$C~+ Page 5 of 7
'# "Z$ (page number not for citation purposes)
b5_A*-s$M prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
*wwLhweQ5W relatively stable over the 6-year period.
Vvm6T@b M8 Although different population-based studies used different
tRS^|?? grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
""^9WLH4g- prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
EX>> -D7L different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
teUCK(;23 suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
=gGK24 3 of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
elWN-~ other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
7\"-<z;kK
prevalent type [12,21-23].
?fXg_?+{'g Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
E,xCfS) 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
{uM0J$P : age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
&&
ecq prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
7V 4iPx same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
t}cj8DC! thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
1|;WaO1Q surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
|E53
[:p A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
m/0G=%d%k over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
*Sz`=U7n definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
B6 x5E prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
? Q.Y
level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
;)83tx
/ than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
*gMuo6 groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
n >xhT r< likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
L^RyJ;^c with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
YCh!D dy that functional vision and reading performance were high
YxS*im[%] in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
qI<*Cze cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
k/H<UW?Z] (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
O5_[T43 overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
bp_3ETK]P was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
4yQ4lU,r to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
twf;{lZ( nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
]K XknEaxl than the other two types of cataract. This could have
JR
2v}b resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
|1J "r.K to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
PA`b~Ct prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
:eHh } more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
x ~Se-#$ of any cataract.
pm5Yc@D Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
$N,9e among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
#g ~~zwx/N of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
<u4GIi
<sm assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
q?}G?n4 both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
gxU(& assessment of temporal changes.
h2=zvD; Measurement error could also have partially contributed
@VxBURZ? to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
{[r'+=}l\S Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
~{2@-qcm potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
~+CNED0z+ variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
/V7u
0y slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
xU@Z<d,k grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
n[ba camera and the same two graders who graded photos
<@JU0Z"a= from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
yv$MQ~] of a partial influence from photographic variation
1$".7}M4$ on this result.
yMo@ka=v A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
Aqp3amW! than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
RL)'m both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
;=C^l from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
zQ)[re) Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
8d Ftp3( Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
0;k3 could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
Dtr'X@U study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
v'_tna6`O lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
[oKB1GkA cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
\[,7# factors were detected and no gender difference
!knYD}Rxd was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
Gi{1u}-0 in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
c=@=lGgo levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
m m`:ci women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
8,['q~z Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
{ ET+V Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
r*tGT_/6 n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
j?.VJ^Ff/u Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
@``!P&h Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
hob%'Y5%D PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
wz:w R+ Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
-MOf[f^ Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
9I
pjY~or
Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
fx_7B ( n = number of persons
/8GVu7 * 95% Confidence Limits
o9Agx{'oV BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 X1" `0r3 Page 6 of 7
Ymn0?$,D1= (page number not for citation purposes)
hd^?svID cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
[!DLT6Qk prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
?=
ulfGrY exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
Ct.Q)p-wn or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
K_}vmB\2l also be related to these observations and warrant further
rb,&i1
study.
N4$0ptz#}G Conclusion
y]@_DL#J= In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
r,0> 40^ apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
9i9VDk{ of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
oOSw>23x overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
P$w0.XZa 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
OyTBgS G?a reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
~>+}(%<, Competing interests
44b'40 The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
{{giSW' Authors' contributions
)Ax1?Nx$ AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
I`FH^= and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
9 ?h)U|J?G photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
iF<VbQP=X^ ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
>#xpg&2x reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
*mq+w & study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
5\qoZs*e and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
lSQANC' approved the final manuscript.
v{&c
god Acknowledgements
_
@ \ This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
#;2Ju'e#z Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
])T*T$u abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Q%q_ (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
[;#}BlbN References
t$R|lv5< 1. Congdon N, O'Colmain B, Klaver CC, Klein R, Munoz B, Friedman
" c}pY ^( DS, Kempen J, Taylor HR, Mitchell P: Causes and prevalence of
wrw~J visual impairment among adults in the United States. Arch
=f=MtH?0y Ophthalmol 2004, 122(4):477-485.
uppA`> 2. Rahmani B, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Gottsch J, Quigley H, Javitt J, Sommer
T%?<3/Ev! A: The cause-specific prevalence of visual impairment in an
EKq9m=Ua@o urban population. The Baltimore Eye Survey. Ophthalmology
|cUlXg= 1996, 103:1721-1726.
rp.JYz, 3. Keeffe JE, Konyama K, Taylor HR: Vision impairment in the
;
lnh;0B Pacific region. Br J Ophthalmol 2002, 86:605-610.
A)s 4. Reidy A, Minassian DC, Vafidis G, Joseph J, Farrow S, Wu J, Desai P,
q"`1cFD Connolly A: Prevalence of serious eye disease and visual
<~vamim#K impairment in a north London population: population based,
B k#68p cross sectional study. BMJ 1998, 316:1643-1646.
r9z/hm}E 5. Resnikoff S, Pascolini D, Etya'ale D, Kocur I, Pararajasegaram R,
#Ubzh`v Pokharel GP, Mariotti SP: Global data on visual impairment in
ZGe+w]( the year 2002. Bull World Health Organ 2004, 82:844-851.
>jRz4% 6. Pascolini D, Mariotti SP, Pokharel GP, Pararajasegaram R, Etya'ale D,
lMF
j"x\ Negrel AD, Resnikoff S: 2002 global update of available data on
_~| j~QE] visual impairment: a compilation of population-based prevalence
Quc9lL studies. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2004, 11:67-115.
D />REC^ 7. Rochtchina E, Mukesh BN, Wang JJ, McCarty CA, Taylor HR, Mitchell
x]XhWScr' P: Projected prevalence of age-related cataract and cataract
4(|x@:wxm surgery in Australia for the years 2001 and 2021: pooled data
_:?)2 NV from two population-based surveys. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol
^SVdaQ{7 2003, 31:233-236.
7V%}U5 8. Medicare Benefits Schedule Statistics [
http://www.medicar ;WO/xA-# eaustralia.gov.au/statistics/dyn_mbs/forms/mbs_tab4.shtml]
a
UAPh 9. Keeffe JE, Taylor HR: Cataract surgery in Australia 1985–94.
srw5&s(3X Aust N Z J Ophthalmol 1996, 24:313-317.
0^?(;AK 10. Tan AG, Wang JJ, Rochtchina E, Jakobsen K, Mitchell P: Increase in
218ZUg -a cataract surgery prevalence from 1992–1994 to 1997–2000:
'9H7I! L@ Analysis of two population cross-sections. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol
FzXVNUMP 2004, 32:284-288.
xT#j-T 11. Mitchell P, Smith W, Attebo K, Wang JJ: Prevalence of age-related
\\Fl,' maculopathy in Australia. The Blue Mountains Eye Study.
{ckA Ophthalmology 1995, 102:1450-1460.
"AS;\-Jk 12. Mitchell P, Cumming RG, Attebo K, Panchapakesan J: Prevalence of
&JVe
-. cataract in Australia: the Blue Mountains eye study. Ophthalmology
@=E@
*@g 1997, 104:581-588.
1X.5cl?V 13. Klein BEK, Magli YL, Neider MW, Klein R: Wisconsin system for classification
A?06fo, of cataracts from photographs (protocol) Madison, WI; 1990.
V)^nVD)e 14. Foran S, Wang JJ, Mitchell P: Causes of visual impairment in two
hvnZ
2x.?d older population cross-sections: the Blue Mountains Eye
-e3m!h Study. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2003, 10:215-225.
5Y"JRWC 15. Congdon N, Vingerling JR, Klein BE, West S, Friedman DS, Kempen J,
CD
:@OI O'Colmain B, Wu SY, Taylor HR: Prevalence of cataract and
.36z pseudophakia/aphakia among adults in the United States.
N5Eb.a9S Arch Ophthalmol 2004, 122:487-494.
WJ9Jj69 16. Sperduto RD, Hiller R: The prevalence of nuclear, cortical, and
n9B1NM5 \ posterior subcapsular lens opacities in a general population
O%AQ'[' sample. Ophthalmology 1984, 91:815-818.
?_3K]i1IS 17. Adamsons I, Munoz B, Enger C, Taylor HR: Prevalence of lens
Nc()$Nl8 opacities in surgical and general populations. Arch Ophthalmol
~Y<x-)R 1991, 109:993-997.
o}mD1q0yE 18. Klein BE, Klein R, Linton KL: Prevalence of age-related lens
ExqI=k`Zs opacities in a population. The Beaver Dam Eye Study. Ophthalmology
U{gJn#e/. 1992, 99:546-552.
#(FG+Bk 19. West SK, Munoz B, Schein OD, Duncan DD, Rubin GS: Racial differences
RcitW;{|Kg in lens opacities: the Salisbury Eye Evaluation (SEE)
q%i2'yE project. Am J Epidemiol 1998, 148:1033-1039.
D0/ \ 20. Congdon N, West SK, Buhrmann RR, Kouzis A, Munoz B, Mkocha H:
u* G|TF Prevalence of the different types of age-related cataract in
OWT5Bjl an African population. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2001,
1Rc'2Y 42:2478-2482.
O+A/thI%*S 21. Livingston PM, Guest CS, Stanislavsky Y, Lee S, Bayley S, Walker C,
JL45!+ McKean C, Taylor HR: A population-based estimate of cataract
U@x5cw: prevalence: the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project experience.
N|Mzj|i. Dev Ophthalmol 1994, 26:1-6.
+K,]#$k 22. Leske MC, Connell AM, Wu SY, Hyman L, Schachat A: Prevalence
T|`nw_0
of lens opacities in the Barbados Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol
:
&>PN,q> 1997, 115:105-111. published erratum appears in Arch Ophthalmol
9ar+P h@* 1997 Jul;115(7):931
tYK
5?d 23. Seah SK, Wong TY, Foster PJ, Ng TP, Johnson GJ: Prevalence of
?(UeWLC# lens opacity in Chinese residents of Singapore: the tanjong
6a51bj!f pagar survey. Ophthalmology 2002, 109:2058-2064.
Cg^=&1| 24. Stifter E, Sacu S, Weghaupt H, Konig F, Richter-Muksch S, Thaler A,
('QfB<4H1 Velikay-Parel M, Radner W: Reading performance depending on
-\xNuU the type of cataract and its predictability on the visual outcome.
%H Pwu & J Cataract Refract Surg 2004, 30:1259-1267.
D&KRJQ/ 25. Stifter E, Sacu S, Weghaupt H: Functional vision with cataracts of
bim}{wMb different morphologies: comparative study. J Cataract Refract
NK.
] yw' Surg 2004, 30:1883-1891.
{?yZdL:m) 26. Leske MC, Chylack LT Jr, Wu SY: The Lens Opacities Case-Control
hF|N81T Study. Risk factors for cataract. Arch Ophthalmol 1991,
2Z
W
{ 109:244-251.
o|FjNL 27. Leske MC, Wu SY, Hyman L, Sperduto R, Underwood B, Chylack LT,
VJquB8?H
Milton RC, Srivastava S, Ansari N: Biochemical factors in the lens
vJTdZ p opacities. Case-control study. The Lens Opacities Case-Control
4+Aht]$hC Study Group. Arch Ophthalmol 1995, 113:1113-1119.
/Ilve
U`E 28. Yip R, Johnson C, Dallman PR: Age-related changes in laboratory
fg"]4&`j- values used in the diagnosis of anemia and iron deficiency.
4h% G %>j Am J Clin Nutr 1984, 39:427-436.
UqHk2h- 29. Mitchell P, Smith W, Wang JJ, Cumming RG, Leeder SR, Burnett L:
uW4)DT9[5 Diabetes in an older Australian population. Diabetes Res Clin
vl1`s
^}R Pract 1998, 41:177-184.
}XHB7, Pre-publication history
]/31@RT The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed
_"nzo4e0 here:
1{%3OG^' Publish with BioMed Central and every
5D9n>K4| scientist can read your work free of charge
zo
h%^8?o "BioMed Central will be the most significant development for
R9+0ZoS disseminating the results of biomedical research in our lifetime."
F"|OcKAA}h Sir Paul Nurse, Cancer Research UK
,#/%Fn%T Your research papers will be:
D^m`&asC available free of charge to the entire biomedical community
G+5_I"`W peer reviewed and published immediately upon acceptance
{e35O(Y cited in PubMed and archived on PubMed Central
Jam&Rj, yours — you keep the copyright
6VUkZKc Submit your manuscript here:
p+.xye U( http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/publishing_adv.asp iNO}</7? BioMedcentral
Z=KHsMnB BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 uge~*S Page 7 of 7
UM(`O
h8 (page number not for citation purposes)
w/49O;r V http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17/prepub