Attributable risk estimates for cataract to prioritize medical and public health action

PURPOSE: Cataract is the most common cause of blindness in the world. The purpose of this study was to estimate the population attributable risk associated with identified risk factors for cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract in a representative sample of the Victorian population aged 40 years and older. METHODS: Cluster, stratified sampling was used and participants were recruited through a household census. At locally established test sites, standardized clinical examinations were performed to assess cataract and personal interviews were conducted to quantify potential risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factors associated with the three types of cataract, and the population attributable risk was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 3271 (83% of eligible) of the urban residents and 1473 (92%) rural residents participated. The urban residents ranged in age from 40 to 98 years (mean, 59 years), and 1511 (46%) were men. The rural residents ranged in age from 40 to 103 years (mean, 60 years), and 701 (48%) were men. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract was 12.1% (95% CL 10.5, 13.8), nuclear cataract 12.6% (95% CL 9.61, 15.7), and PSC cataract 4.93% (95% CL 3.68, 6.17). Significant risk factors for cortical cataract included age, female gender, diabetes for greater than 5 years, gout for greater than 20 years, arthritis, myopia, average annual ocular UV-B exposure, and family history of cataract (parents or siblings). Significant risk factors for nuclear cataract included age, female gender, rural residence, age-related maculopathy, diabetes for greater than 5 years, smoker for greater than 30 years, and myopia. The significant risk factors for PSC cataract were age, rural residence, thiazide diuretic use, and myopia. Of the modifiable risk factors, ocular UV-B exposure explains 10% of the cortical cataract in the community, and cigarette smoking accounts for 17% of the nuclear cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the near universal exposure to UV-B in the environment, ocular protection has one of the highest modifiable attributable risks for cortical cataract and would therefore be an ideal target for public health intervention. Quit smoking campaigns can be expanded to incorporate information about the excess cataract in the community associated with long-term smoking. Nonmodifiable risk factors such as age, gender, and long-term medication use have implications for the timely referral and treatment for those at higher risk of cataract.     

Risk factors for cataract in Oxfordshire: diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, myopia, glaucoma and diarrhoea

423 cataract patients and 608 controls between the ages of 50 and 79 were interviewed in a case-control study in Oxfordshire. Diabetes, myopia, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy and severe diarrhoea were identified as risk factors. The excess risk experienced by females with diabetes was confirmed. The trauma of surgery for glaucoma may be largely responsible for the appearance of glaucoma as a risk factor. Severe diarrhoea has now been identified as a risk factor in England and in India. The risk associated with peripheral neuropathy may indicate a common aetiology at least for some proportions of the two conditions.     

A case-control study of cataract in Oxfordshire: some risk factors.

Three hundred patients with cataract and 609 control subjects with the same age-sex distribution were interviewed in a study of cataract in Oxfordshire, England. The risks associated with severe diarrhoea, glaucoma, and work on a military base have been demonstrated. Population attributable risks were calculated for those and other risk factors.     

Female reproductive factors and eye disease in a rural South Indian population: the Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey

PURPOSE: To determine the potential associations of female reproductive factors with age-related cataract, open-angle glaucoma, macular degeneration, and myopia in an older population of rural south India. METHODS: This was a population-based, cross-sectional study of older adults in rural south India identified through a cluster sampling technique. Histories relating to female reproductive factors were ascertained through a questionnaire administered by trained workers. Detailed ocular examinations including automated perimetry were performed on all participants at a base hospital to arrive at a diagnosis of ocular morbidity. RESULTS: The study achieved a high response rate (93.0%), with examinations performed on 5150 of the eligible 5539 persons aged 40 years or more. Age at menarche was available for 2797 (98.6%) of the women and age at natural menopause for 1841 (98.0%) of 1878 women who were postmenopausal. The mean age at menarche was 14.8 +/- 1.8 years, and the mean age at menopause was 43.4 +/- 3.9 years. The mean duration of endogenous estrogen exposure was 28.4 +/- 4.3 years. The median number of pregnancies was 4 (mean, 4.3 +/- 2.6; range, 0-16). Older age at menarche (>or=14 years) was associated with reduced risk for age-related cataract and myopia, and greater risk for macular degeneration. Neither age at menopause nor duration of endogenous estrogen exposure was associated with any of the ocular diseases studied. Parity was not associated with any of the ocular diseases studied in a multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: Female reproductive factors do not appear to influence age-related cataract, open-angle glaucoma, macular degeneration or myopia significantly in rural south India.     

Drugs, including alcohol, that act as risk factors for cataract, and possible protection against cataract by aspirin-like analgesics and cyclopenthiazide.

A case-control study of cataract in Oxfordshire explored the risks and benefits associated with a variety of drugs. Steroids including the diuretic spironolactone, nifedipine, heavy smoking, and beer drinking were associated with a raised risk. On the other hand aspirin-like analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. appeared to protect against cataract. Cyclopenthiazide appeared to provide a similar protection.     

An ideal ocular nutritional supplement?*

The role of nutritional supplementation in prevention of onset or progression of ocular disease is of interest to health care professionals and patients. The aim of this review is to identify those antioxidants most appropriate for inclusion in an ideal ocular nutritional supplement, suitable for those with a family history of glaucoma, cataract, or age-related macular disease, or lifestyle factors predisposing onset of these conditions, such as smoking, poor nutritional status, or high levels of sunlight exposure. It would also be suitable for those with early stages of age-related ocular disease. Literature searches were carried out on Web of Science and PubMed for articles relating to the use of nutrients in ocular disease. Those highlighted for possible inclusion were vitamins A, B, C and E, carotenoids beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, minerals selenium and zinc, and the herb, Ginkgo biloba. Conflicting evidence is presented for vitamins A and E in prevention of ocular disease; these vitamins have roles in the production of rhodopsin and prevention of lipid peroxidation respectively. B vitamins have been linked with a reduced risk of cataract and studies have provided evidence supporting a protective role of vitamin C in cataract prevention. Beta-carotene is active in the prevention of free radical formation, but has been linked with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers. Improvements in visual function in patients with age-related macular disease have been noted with lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation. Selenium has been linked with a reduced risk of cataract and activates the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage while zinc, although an essential component of antioxidant enzymes, has been highlighted for risk of adverse effects. As well as reducing platelet aggregation and increasing vasodilation, Gingko biloba has been linked with improvements in pre-existing field damage in some patients with normal tension glaucoma. We advocate that vitamins C and E, and lutein/zeaxanthin should be included in our theoretically ideal ocular nutritional supplement.     

Refractive associations with cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between myopia and age-related cataract in a defined older population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 3654 people aged 49 to 97 years was conducted in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, from 1992 through 1994. General medical, eye, and refractive history and information about confounders were collected by questionnaire. Participants had a detailed determination of refraction, and the spherical equivalent refraction of each eye was calculated. The Wisconsin Cataract Grading System was used in masked grading of slit lamp and retroillumination lens photographs, to assess presence and severity of nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract. Data from both eyes were analyzed by the generalized estimating equation method, adjusting for cataract risk factors. RESULTS: Included in the analysis were 7308 eyes. A history of wearing distance glasses, excluding eyes with current hyperopic refraction, was used as a proxy for myopia. Subjects who had worn distance glasses were more likely to have nuclear cataract (odds ratio [OR] 1.3; confidence interval [CI] 1.0-2.1). After stratification by age at first wearing distance glasses, this relationship remained only for people who first wore distance glasses after age 40 years (OR 1.3; CI 1.0-1.8), which suggested a myopic refractive shift from developing nuclear opacity and was supported by the weak association found between current myopic refraction and nuclear cataract (OR 1.3; CI 1.0-1.6). Eyes with onset of myopia before age 20 years had the greatest PSC cataract risk (OR 3.9; CI 2.0-7.9). This was supported by the finding of an association between current myopic refraction and PSC cataract (OR 2.5; CI 1.6-4.1). PSC cataract was inversely associated with hyperopia (OR 0.6; CI 0.4-0.9). Refraction-related increasing odds were found between PSC cataract and myopia: low myopia (OR 2.1; CI 1.4-3.5), moderate myopia (OR 3.1; CI 1.6-5.7), and high myopia (OR 5.5; CI 2.8-10.9). High myopia was associated with PSC, cortical, and late nuclear cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Early-onset myopia (before age 20 years) may be a strong and independent risk factor for PSC cataract. The findings suggest the possibility of a dose response between levels of myopia and PSC cataract. Nuclear cataract was associated with presumed acquired myopia, whereas high myopia was associated with all three types of cataract.     

Prevalence of visual impairment and related factors in Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan: a cross sectional study

AIM: To determine the prevalence, main causes, and related factors of visual impairment (VI) among people aged 50y and over in Jalalabad City and four surrounding districts of Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. METHODS: The data for the population based cross-sectional study was collected in 2015. The calculated sample size was 1353, allocated to urban-rural strata using probability proportion to size method. At the end of the study, 1281 people participated in to the study. VI was defined as presenting visual acuity (VA) of less than 6/18 and blindness as VA less than 3/60 in the better eye by using Snellen chart only. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 21.0 software. RESULTS: The prevalence of VI was 22.6% (95%CI, 20%-25%) of which 13.9% (95%CI, 12%-16%) was low vision and 8.7% (95%CI, 7%-10%) was blindness. The most common causes of the VI were cataract (52.8%), followed by uncorrected refractive error (URE) (26.9%) and glaucoma (8.6%). Number one cause of the low vision was URE (42%), followed by cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), while for blindness they are cataract (72%), other posterior segment disorders, glaucoma, URE and AMD. Illiteracy, bad economic status, hypertension and overweight were factors independently associated with both VI and low vision, whereas, age, illiteracy, bad economic status, hypertension and using of sunglasses were independently associated with blindness. CONCLUSION: Cataract, URE, glaucoma, AMD and DR are the leading causes of VI and blindness in the study area. They are mostly avoidable. In order to decrease the burden of VI and blindness in the study area as well as the whole country, it is strongly recommended to apply the prevention policies of VI and blindness.     

超声乳化白内障摘除联合人工晶状体植入术后低视力原因分析

目的分析超声乳化自内障摘除联合人工晶状体植入术后低视力的原因。方法随访776例超声乳化白内障摘除联合人工晶状体植入的患者。观察其术后1个月裸眼视力及矫正视力，对于其中矫正视力低于0．3者，进行详细的眼科检查，分析其发生术后低视力的原因。结果随访的患者中63例发生术后低视力，其中高度近视视网膜病变者17例，占26．98％；抗青光眼术后及有青光眼病史者15例，占23．80％；糖尿病视网膜病变者14例，占22．22％；老年性黄斑变性者5例，占7．93％；先天性白内障术后弱视者3例，占4．76％；翼状胬肉切除术后角膜斑翳者2例，占3．17％；视网膜色素变性者2例，占3．17％；黄斑前膜者2例，占3．17％；手术并发症者2例，占3．17％；视神经萎缩者1例，占1．59％。术后低视力的发生绝大多数都与其眼部的“原有眼病”有直接的关系。结论超声乳化白内障摘除联合人工晶状体植入术是目前治疗白内障最有效的方法之一。术前完善的眼科检查是必不可少的，尤其对那些有“高危因素”的患者，术前对这些患者的眼底功能的评估是十分重要的。     

老年黄斑变性患者影响因素对照调查分析

目的 探讨老年黄斑变性(AMD)患者的影响因素.方法 采用病例-对照研究方法,对病例组44例和对照组32例进行AMD有关危险因素的调查分析.结果 与对照组比较,病例组在年龄、性别、家族史、BMI指数、玻璃体混浊、白内障方面差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05);但病例组在吸烟史和户外阳光较充足时对眼没有采取保护措施差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).与对照组比较,病例组经常吃新鲜水果、豆类及其制品的比例明显减少,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);对其他食物摄入频率方面两组之间没有显著性差异(P>0.05).结论 不吸烟、避免强阳光对眼照射、经常吃新鲜水果和豆类食品对预防AMD发生有保护作用.     

原发性开角型青光眼和正常眼压性青光眼危险因素的研究

目的：探讨原发开角型青光眼（POAG）和正常眼压性青光眼（NTG）发病相关的危险因素。方法：对592例（1156眼）原发开角型青光眼和53例（100眼）正常眼压青光眼患者进行眼科常规检查,视野检查,屈光,血糖,血压检测,家庭史及药物史和全身病调查,结果：NTG组与POAG组相比较,在患病年龄的分布上有差异：POAG组以20－40岁年龄最常见,而NTG组以50－60岁年龄最常见;两组患者均有较高的近视患病率（POAG组为42．1％,NTG组为66．04％）,NTG组低血压患病率67．92％）,阳性家族史为20．75％,两者均明显高于POAG组,差异有显著性,结论：年龄,近视,低血压,青光眼家族史可能是POAG和NTG发病的重要因素。     

A case-control study on risk factors for nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract: The Casteldaccia Eye Study

PURPOSE: To investigate risk factors for nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular age-related cataract. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out on subjects aged 40 years and older, living in Casteldaccia, Sicily. Twenty-seven potential risk factors were investigated. Nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular opacities of the lens were classified according to the Lens Opacities Classification System II. Subjects with advanced lens opacities represented the cases, while an identical number of subjects without or with early cataract, matched for sex and age, were recruited as controls from within the same population. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that myopia and iris atrophy were significantly associated with nuclear cataract. Iris atrophy, use of corticosteroids, pseudoexfoliation syndrome and familial occurrence of cataract were positively correlated with cortical cataract. Myopia, iris atrophy, use of corticosteroids and familial occurrence of cataract presented an association with posterior subcapsular cataract. After multivariate analysis, the variables that remained significantly associated were myopia and iris atrophy for nuclear cataract; iris atrophy, pseudoexfoliation syndrome and familial occurrence of cataract for cortical cataract; and myopia, iris atrophy and familial occurrence of cataract for posterior subcapsular cataract. CONCLUSION: In addition to well known risk factors such as myopia or use of corticosteroids, the Casteldaccia case-control study shows that iris atrophy represents a previously unrecognized risk factor for each of the three types of cataract.     

Nuclear cataract shows significant familial aggregation in an older population after adjustment for possible shared environmental factors

PURPOSE: To quantify the association between siblings in age-related nuclear cataract, after adjusting for known environmental and personal risk factors. METHODS: All participants (probands) in the Salisbury Eye Evaluation (SEE) project and their locally resident siblings underwent digital slit lamp photography and were administered a questionnaire to assess risk factors for cataract including: age, gender, lifetime sun exposure, smoking and diabetes history, and use of alcohol and medications such as estrogens and steroids. In addition, blood pressure, body mass index, and serum antioxidants were measured in all participants. Lens photographs were graded by trained observers masked to the subjects' identity, using the Wilmer Cataract Grading System. The odds ratio for siblings for affectedness with nuclear cataract and the sibling correlation of nuclear cataract grade, after adjusting for covariates, were estimated with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Among 307 probands (mean age, 77.6 +/- 4.5 years) and 434 full siblings (mean age, 72.4 +/- 7.4 years), the average sibship size was 2.7 per family. After adjustment for covariates, the probability of development of nuclear cataract was significantly increased (odds ratio [OR] = 2.07, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-3.30) among individuals with a sibling with nuclear cataract (nuclear grade > or = 3.0). The final fitted model indicated a magnitude of heritability for nuclear cataract of 35.6% (95% CI: 21.0%-50.3%) after adjustment for the covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Findings in this study are consistent with a genetic effect for age-related nuclear cataract, a common and clinically significant form of lens opacity.     

晶状体溶解性青光眼患者白内障手术后高眼压的危险因素

目的：探讨晶状体溶解性青光眼(PLG)患者白内障手术术后高眼压的危险因素。

方法：回顾性分析。2010-01/2020-12我院148例148眼行白内障手术治疗的PLG患者的临床资料,根据其术后高眼压发生情况分为非高眼压组(126例)与高眼压组(22例)。采用Logistic回归分析评估PLG患者白内障手术术后高眼压的危险因素。构建列线图预测模型,并绘制受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)评估列线图模型的预测能力。

结果：两组患者年龄、性别、BMI、白内障晶状体核分级、合并高血压及手术方式均无差异(P>0.05); 高眼压组患者合并糖尿病、高度近视、术前合并色素膜炎、术前合并眼外伤及术中并发症占比均高于非高眼压组(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示,合并糖尿病、高度近视、术前合并色素膜炎、术前合并眼外伤及术中并发症是PLG患者白内障手术术后高眼压的影响因素。本研究构建的列线图模型拟合效果良好,其ROC曲线下面积为0.906(0.890～0.921),表明具有较强的预测能力。

结论：术中并发症、术前合并色素膜炎、合并眼外伤、合并糖尿病及高度近视的PLG患者白内障手术后发生高眼压的风险较高,临床应对这些患者予以重视,以期改善患者的预后。     

Awareness of eye diseases and risk factors: identifying needs for health education and promotion in Canada

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the level of general public knowledge in Canada regarding the risk factors, prevention, and treatment of major blinding eye diseases. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional survey using self-administered questionnaires of patients presenting to 33 family practitioners' offices in British Columbia. We asked patients' opinions on the "value" of preventing blindness; the possibility of preventing cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration; the possibility of treating these conditions; and their knowledge of risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 882 adults completed the questionnaires. Preventing vision loss was reported as one of 2 top health priorities in 28% of the questionnaires, more commonly by those with higher education and non-European ancestry. Overall, 69.2% reported familiarity with cataract as a cause of vision loss, 41.2% with glaucoma, and 20.2% with macular degeneration. Of these, 97.5% recognized the possibility of treatment for cataract, 91.5% for glaucoma, and 77.0% for macular degeneration, yet few respondents knew risk factors (amenable to intervention) for specific eye diseases. Men and younger respondents were more likely to report not knowing risk factors. Chinese-Canadians were least familiar with the association between smoking and cataract. Family history, probably the most important factor to help diagnose glaucoma, was recognized by only 23% of respondents. INTERPRETATION: Although loss of vision was reported as a major medical concern, there is little understanding of the risk factors for different eye diseases. The association of non-European ancestry and low educational attainment with poor knowledge of eye diseases suggests that innovative education programmes in primary and secondary schools and in non-English languages are needed to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices.     

Ocular changes, risk markers for eye disorders and effects of cataract surgery in elderly people: a study of an urban Swedish population followed from 70 to 97 years of age

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of and potential risk factors for ocular disorders and the effects of timing of cataract surgery from age 70-97 years. POPULATION: A representative population sample taken from within the Gerontological and Geriatric Population Studies (H 70) in Gothenburg, Sweden (n = 958). All subjects underwent eye examinations at age 70 years in 1971 and subsequently at ages 82, 88, 95 and 97 years. All inhabitants of Gothenburg aged 95 and 97 years were invited to participate in the study. RESULTS: Decreased vision (visual acuity < or = 0.5) was found in 20% and 80% of subjects at ages 82 and 97 years, respectively. Blood folate and physical activity at age 70 years correlated positively and body mass index (BMI) negatively to visual acuity (VA) > or = 0.8 at ages 82 and 88 years. Smoking at age 70 years correlated to early age-related maculopathy (ARM). Cataract surgery had been performed in 40% of subjects at age 97 years. Surgery 2 years earlier led to a 15% increase in time spent with improved vision. CONCLUSIONS: The deterioration of vision in elderly people is a major health problem, for which 'low' folate status, smoking, 'high' BMI and low physical activity are potential risk factors. Early cataract surgery is also beneficial in very old patients.     

Use of traditional cooking fuels and the risk of young adult cataract in rural Bangladesh: a hospital-based case-control study

Background

This study aimed to investigate the independent relationship between the use of various traditional biomass cooking fuels and the occurrence of cataract in young adults in rural Bangladesh.

Methods

A hospital-based age- and sex-matched case-control study incorporating two control groups was conducted. Cases were cataract patients aged 18 and 49 years diagnosed on the basis of any opacity of the crystalline lens or its capsule and visual acuity poorer than 6/18 on the Log Mar Visual Acuity Chart in either eye, or who had a pseudophakic lens as a result of cataract surgery within the previous 5 years. Non-eye-disease (NE) controls were selected from patients from ENT or Orthopaedics departments and non-cataract eye-disease (NC) controls from the Ophthalmology department. Data pertaining to history of exposure to various cooking fuels and to established risk factors for cataract were obtained by face-to-face interview and analyzed using conditional logistic regression.

Results

Clean fuels were used by only 4% of subjects. A majority of males (64-80% depending on group) had never cooked, while the rest had used biomass cooking fuels, mainly wood/dry leaves, with only 6 having used rice straw and/or cow dung. All females of each group had used wood/dry leaves for cooking. Close to half had also used rice straw and/or cow dung. Among females, after controlling for family history of cataract and education and combining the two control groups, case status was shown to be significantly related to lifetime exposure to rice straw, fitted as a trend variable coded as never, ≤ median of all exposed, > median of all exposed (OR = 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22), but not to lifetime exposure to wood/dry leaves. Case status among females showed an inverse association with ever use of cow dung as a cooking fuel (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.22-0.81).

Conclusions

In this population, where cooking is almost exclusively done using biomass fuels, cases of young adult cataract among females were more likely to have had an increased lifetime exposure to cooking with rice straw fuel and not to have cooked using cow dung fuel. There is a possibility that these apparent associations could have been the result of uncontrolled founding, for instance by wealth. The nature of the associations, therefore, needs to be further investigated.     

The risk factors for massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage in the material of the Department of Ophthalmology,Medical Academy in Bialystok from 1990 to 2000

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is evaluation of the risk factors for development of expulsive hemorrhage among patients operated in Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy in Bia?ystok from 1990 to 2000. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 18 patients with massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurring in association with cataract and glaucoma surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of patients with expulsive hemorrhage was 69.5 years. There were 10 women (55.6%) and 8 men (44.4%). In the population of patients in whom the suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurred hypertension was present in 5 (27.7%) and diabetes in 3 (16.6%). 8 patients (44.4%) had reported atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 7 patients (38.8%) had a history of glaucoma, 6 (33.3%) had high myopia. 1 patient had posterior synechiae after uveitis. All surgeries, except one, were performed under local anesthesia. There were no associations between suprachoroidal hemorrhage development and season. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest, that the risk factors for the development of massive intraoperative suprachoroidal hemorrhage are: high myopia, glaucoma and systemic cardiovascular diseases. A knowledge of these risk factors can help the physician in identifying patients, who are at a greater risk of having massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage.     

Is there a direct association between age-related eye diseases and mortality? The Rotterdam Study

PURPOSE: To study mortality in subjects with age-related maculopathy (ARM), cataract, or open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in comparison with those without these disorders. DESIGN: Population-based prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (n = 6339) aged 55 years and older from the population-based Rotterdam Study for whom complete information on eye disease status was present. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vital status continuously monitored from 1990 until January 1, 2000. METHODS: The diagnosis of ARM was made according to the International Classification System. Cataract, determined on biomicroscopy, was defined as any sign of nuclear or (sub)cortical cataract, or both, in at least one eye with a visual acuity of 20/40 or less. Aphakia and pseudophakia in at least one eye were classified as operated cataract. Definite OAG was defined as a glaucomatous optic neuropathy combined with a glaucomatous visual field defect. Diagnoses were assessed at baseline. Mortality hazard ratios were computed using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, adjusted for appropriate confounders (age, gender, smoking status, body mass index, cholesterol level, atherosclerosis, hypertension, history of cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus). RESULTS: The adjusted mortality hazard ratio for subjects with AMD (n = 104) was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-1.68), with biomicroscopic cataract (n = 951) was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.74-1.21), with surgical cataract (n = 298) was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.86-1.68), and with definite OAG (n = 44) was 0.39 (95% CI, 0.10-1.55). CONCLUSIONS: Both ARM and cataract are predictors of shorter survival because they have risk factors that also affect mortality. When adjusted for these factors, ARM, cataract, and OAG were themselves not significantly associated with mortality.     

Prevalence and causes of visual field loss as determined by frequency doubling perimetry in urban and rural adult Chinese

PURPOSE: To determine prevalence and causes of visual field loss (VFL) as determined by frequency doubling perimetry in elderly Chinese individuals. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional cohort study. METHODS: The Beijing Eye Study included 4439 of 5324 subjects (83.4%) who were invited to participate with an age of 40+ years. Visual field was assessed by frequency doubling threshold perimetry. Main outcome measure was an abnormal visual field defined as at least one test location of reduced sensitivity. RESULTS: Of the 4439 people who were examined, 4350 subjects (98.0%; 8617 eyes) provided measurement data by frequency doubling perimetry. In subjects aged 40 to 49 years, the most frequent cause for VFL was degenerative myopia followed by glaucoma, other optic nerve diseases, and cataract. In the subjects aged 60 to 69 years, the most frequent cause for VFL was cataract, followed by glaucoma and degenerative myopia. In the subjects aged 70+ years, the most frequent cause for VFL was glaucoma, followed by cataract and degenerative myopia. VFL was associated significantly with age (P < .001), myopic refractive error (P < .001), rural region (P = .001), low level of education (P = .01), degree of nuclear cataract (P < .001), and intraocular pressure (P < .001). CONCLUSION: In contrast to Western countries, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy play a minor role as a cause for VFL in China.