BioMed Central
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rUuM__;d BMC Ophthalmology
1wq6E Research article Open Access
f{vnZ|WD Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
H<q:+ population-based surveys 6 years apart
n.T
[a Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
](O!6_'d Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
1b't"i M Westmead, NSW, Australia
*
5j iC Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
Axcm~!uf Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au X-%*`XG' * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
{:"bX~<^ Abstract
_ '}UNIL Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
Ltu;sw subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
:JOF!Q Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
{>~|xW cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
9SU;c l cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
r..Rh9v/=E photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
i
JQS@2=A cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
X2EC+< Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
K/08F|]a who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
g{i(4DHm( 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
VbZZ=q=Kd an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
]@<O!fS two surveys.
p{88v3b6 Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
yYW>) prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
HtXzMSGo7 prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
x=9drKIw> the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
**oN/5 prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
uv Z!3 UH. Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
zEa3a distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
9V\5`QXu The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
L-q.Q Background
eM{+R^8 Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
XC~|{d impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
7=}`"7i~ estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
Yz[^?M%(D affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
}]/"auk aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
N5o jXX!l% for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
qA5tMZ^w be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
^
@sg{_.~l Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
TVQ9"C most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
va| 1N/& cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
]^E<e!z={$ Published: 20 April 2006
*ewE{$UpK BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
m{;2! Received: 14 December 2005
([^1gG+>J Accepted: 20 April 2006
e'p'{]r<w This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 pm@Mlwg`1 © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
~CQsv` This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
T5Yu+>3 which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Ic P]EgB BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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I^emH+!MW (page number not for citation purposes)
:H@Q`g u of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
-X3yCK?re in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
%
tT L Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
C|*U)#3:F increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
fp^{612O? fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
eVGO6 2|! from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
LhKaqR{ The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
bbCH(fYbu years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
aJdd2,e Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
}
>]V_}h increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
8iA[w-Pv 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
i&= I5$ population-based samples with a similar age range
LDc?/
Z1 [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
M#Kke9%2 would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
\MI2^JN and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
`ECY:3"$KA benefits to a greater number of older people and an
Gj!9#on$7R increased number of persons with surgery performed on
4&N#d;ErC both eyes.
JbX"K< nQ Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
Fj;];1nt link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
( f]@lNmx surgery and eye health care provision. This report
08czP-)OZ aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
#!?jxfsFa and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
Z mVw5G
q (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
;YN`E surveys 6 years apart.
.,h>2;f Methods
<fSWX>pR The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
W>#[a %R cohort study of common eye diseases and other
NVnId p health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
9[2qgw\D residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
{'#1do}{ areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
d?ru8 Participants were identified through a census and were
0Wkk$0h9 invited to participate. The study was approved at each
#)r^ZA&E stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
2NMg+Lt8v of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
TW?_fse*[ Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
8NnGN(a*D of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
z`}z7e'> was obtained from each participant.
- f?8O6e Details of the methods used in this study have been
}]#&U/z described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
5bB\i79$ (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
9| g]M:{ 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
%g_)_ ~ Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
'\O[j*h^. during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
x{O) n cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
38GkV.e}$ the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
l"zA~W/ newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
?:tk8Kgf eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
3Ofh#|qc& this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
%*zV&H BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
$d-$dM?R5 and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
1=Kt.tuf Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
3,'LW} at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
w}]BJ<C including demographic, family and medical history. A
ExhK\J detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
[uwn\- slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
,\?s=D{ Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
+Wl]1
c/ Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
/Y=_EOS lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
j0=F__H#@ previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
Lv?jg?$ performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
=xQPg0g Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
-^)<FY\ were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
Im?/#t X estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
XuWX@cK Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
&pQ[(|=( involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
7H*,HZc@= when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
\2!. Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
*8Su:=*b using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
[p'A?- [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
>z~_s6#CP was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
p$G3<Z&7 was defined to include persons who had previous
)Tieef*Q~ cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
)Z/$;7]# types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
9_?<T;]" kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
:f:&B8
for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
Wy\^} reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
)3A+Ell` simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
'4It>50b nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
f[vm]1# by an ophthalmologist (PM).
}Ml BmD In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
w2!:>8o: ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
Tay$::V available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
s Pb}A$' while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
nGwon8&]] Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
n&o"RE 0~0 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
:Tv>)N assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
P3YM4&6XA with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
BeLqk3'/ cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
#>HY+ ; between the two groups, as reported previously
*iY:R [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
5~Ek_B or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
vNs`UkA cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
Kxa1F,dZ missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
tBfmjxv for nuclear cataract assessment.
Z m%,L$F*L Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
C-)d@LWI System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
M%la@2SK= prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
mR1b.$ the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
b{,v?7^4 We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
? %8%1d interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
I^( pZ9 group were independent between the two cross-sectional
7]{t^* surveys.
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jUKMDlH (page number not for citation purposes)
p-_9I7? Results
8m=R"
%h Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
;-JF b$m previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
Wu<;QY($5 distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
Fbu4GRgJ3 characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
JFO,Q
-y\ II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
=n,1* hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
n*ShYsc Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
R4VX*qkB shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
u-y?i` was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
"adic?5 respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
LxGD=b prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
T[xIn+w (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
pZeOdh increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
(yi zM cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
~Gmt,l!b period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
o6; (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
i.7_ i78\" was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
Rc{R^5B I and II, respectively).
6
,jCO@!
After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
jQ'g'c! stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
,g}$u'A+d surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
%X.g+uu prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
,D*bLXWh not altered.
>itabG-& Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
J^7M0A4K cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
b?KdR5 II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
T:'JA increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
RD)Vb$.B: both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
LFxk.-{= between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
Yb
<:1?76L cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
bri8o" years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
G%l')e)9Gq in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
Cj4Y, N 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
i~v[3e9y7 consistent between the two surveys, except for a
~' 955fK> reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
'{.4~: and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
CC"a2Hu/ years).
d7r!<u&/ Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
_<mY| observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
:;hg :Q: cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
({C[RsY=6 but the difference was only significant for cortical
RV{%@1Pu cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
vxk0@k_ 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
T6\]*mlr and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
r0[<[jEh Table 1: Participant characteristics.
KFO
K%vbM Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
$MQ<QP n % n %
{.e+?V2>_ Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
c u";rnj 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
,:J[|9 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
CP2wg . 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
o^(I+ <el 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
zY*~2|q,s 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
H{N},B
75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
sm{0o$\Z 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
FCwE/ 2, 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
d(^HO~p 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
^J hs/HV Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
(X\]! 'A Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
L?|}! Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
Z+6WG History of:
Q=DMfJ" Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
n!8W@qhew Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
Btzes. Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
8`)* ?Q9~ Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
Srmr`[i Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
pnp8`\cIH n = number of persons affected
d(RMD * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
c*zeO@AAn ^ P < 0.01
i!UT = BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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3 i>NKS (page number not for citation purposes)
+'93%/: t
"m6G;cv rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
o(?9vU in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
UeZ(@6_: (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
V6c8o2G;+ and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
os;94yd) Discussion
V"K.s2U^ Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
bw/mF5AsW with similar age and gender distribution showed
Uea2WJpX that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
q\jq9) stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
@mg5vt!$` to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
Y$Rte.? with totally independent samples within each age group,
q^^R|X1 confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
v)|a}5={ survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
%q;y74 the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
iI'ib-d same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
+T*??OW@ reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
go6;_ variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
q2`mu4B may have contributed to the observed difference
:iE`=( o in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
=2rdbq6R Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
v;?W|kJ.u Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
T\4>4eX- n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
O#J7GbrHO Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
XJl
3\* 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
g co;8e_ 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
k[<i+C"; 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
!P=L0A` 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
5oB#{h 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
M1 o@v 0 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
9Ou}8a?m"
85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
y9@j-m& 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
>OjK0jiPf PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
u9c^YC BM 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
l`X?C~JhJ 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
0/z$W.! 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
`W1TqA 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
+yk 0ez 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
z([HGq5 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
LKZ<\%
X 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
tdu:imH~ 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
pD~."fb Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
hQL@q7tUr 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
jzi^OI7 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
m*7RC4"J 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
9&B#@cw 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
*|L;&XM&/ 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
@K#}nKN' 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
X6r<#n|l 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
(X2[}K 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
wIF'|" n = number of persons
K}whqe]j * 95% Confidence Limits
i{HzY[ Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
Z{F^qwne Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
mv/Nz? Mountains Eye Study.
vr
kj4Jf 0
(ze9-!% 10
6s!=de 20
Ycxv=Et 30
@zt "Y~9i 40
}tH_YF}u 50
w(y
9y9r] cortical PSC nuclear any
kp)1s>c cataract
,x[~|J! Cataract type
b0N7[M1Xl %
G*zhy!P Cross-section I
mMK 93Ng"& Cross-section II
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Z?eedVV@ (page number not for citation purposes)
]==S?_.B3n prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
) .MV1@s relatively stable over the 6-year period.
(S&D Although different population-based studies used different
v/Xz.?a\jF grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
VY!A]S" prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
}$3pS:_N~ different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
.;:dG suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
|1+mHp of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
"3Ckc"G@ other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
YJZ`Clp? prevalent type [12,21-23].
W)odaab7 Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
(/_w23rr 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
OI^qX;#Kd age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
OlsD prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
%^;rYn3 same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
Tnnj8I1v thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
^^[A\' surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
U/{#~P5s A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
!z+'mF?V+X over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
s)kr=zdyo definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
qoC<qn{.a prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
D[K!xq level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
W`jKe-jF than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
#8B4*gAM groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
(ZD~Q_O- likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
`_pVwa<@w with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
bxAHzOB(\ that functional vision and reading performance were high
W@vCMy! in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
?;
tz cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
9G{#a#Z. (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
?#/~BZR! overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
I=4G+h5p was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
=O~Y6| to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
7vB
6IF nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
hJ*#t<.<P; than the other two types of cataract. This could have
dPF*G$ resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
#UqE%g`J to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
$8NM[R.8^4 prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
aj$&~-/
R more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
S1_):JvV of any cataract.
x Z`h8 Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
'M
%uw85 among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
o65I(` of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
&nwk]+,0W# assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
'],G!U( both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
)bK3%>H# assessment of temporal changes.
W-4R;!42 Measurement error could also have partially contributed
xnC5WF7 to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
4siq Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
3u1\z
se potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
p)* x7~3e variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
J?qikE& slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
r.v.y[u grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
Lv:;} camera and the same two graders who graded photos
lLNI5C from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
GT-ONwVDq of a partial influence from photographic variation
F&D,y-CQ on this result.
jluv}*If A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
Twpk@2=l than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
eY3<LVAX both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
L#`X;:
from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
t7,** $ST Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
Ny]]L Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
DfVSG1g could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
I\('b9"* study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
X9ec*x lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
[.nkNda5)v cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
Q*R9OF factors were detected and no gender difference
+Q+!# was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
^2"w5F in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
H=*2A!O[_ levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
{"\pMY'7 women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
\d
QRQL{LL Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
rz5@E Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
o
X?~ n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
kDc/]Zb% Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
"cDc~~3/@ Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
KqWO9d?w. PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
)9kp[hY Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
(YHK,aC>u Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
p
I@!2c:} Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
ab*O7v n = number of persons
.wkW<F7 * 95% Confidence Limits
vJ uL+'[i BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 2.&%mSN Page 6 of 7
f&C]}P (page number not for citation purposes)
4J$dG l#f cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
cd)}a_9 prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
sDyt 3x
N exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
T$tO[QR/ or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
r\m2Oo)] also be related to these observations and warrant further
6jz~q~
I study.
>C}KSyV; Conclusion
;%O>=m'4 In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
g HKA:j`c apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
?wMS[Kj of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
"Fqrk>Q~ overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
H2E'i\ 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
`+GiSj8'G reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
{-L}YX"Bh Competing interests
_&PF (/w The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
P^'}3*8S Authors' contributions
$TavvO%# AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
Is}?:ET and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
@gihIysf photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
)|<g\>/ ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
@wa<nYd reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
qF4DX$$< study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
~D!Y]
SK and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
?/24-n approved the final manuscript.
09Y:(2Qri Acknowledgements
H]>7IhJ This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
EtA ,ow Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
#5_
pE1 abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
<W88;d33r= (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
hVu~[ 'Me References
&