Prevalence of Age-Related Cataract and Its Determinants in eldelry population
Sara Sardari1 *, Mehdi Khabazkhoob2
- Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: To determine the prevalence of cataract and its relationship with some determinants in individuals above 60 years
Methods: of 3792 subjects that were invited, 3310 participated in the study (response rate=87.31%). All subjects underwent full optometric, slit lamp, and fundoscopic examinations. Then, their lenses were evaluated according to the World Health Organization cataract grading system after pupil dilation
Results: Age- and sex-standardized prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI) of nuclear, cortical, posterior sub capsular cataracts (PSC), any type cataract, and all lens change was 53.09% (49.80 to 56.35), 23.02% (20.87 to 25.32), 5.57% (4.62 to 6.70), 58.78% (55.65 to 61.83), and 72.49% (70.14 to 74.71), respectively. Any type, nuclear, cortical, and PSC cataract had a positive association with age and an inverse association with education. Moreover, the prevalence of cortical and PSC cataract had an inverse association with economic status. Among all variables, age was the strongest determinant for cataract and its subtype.
Conclusion: This study found a higher prevalence of cataract compared to some previous studies such that about two-thirds of the geriatric population had cataract in the past or at the time of the study. Considering the association of cataract with variables such as economic status and education level, it seems that training and increased awareness and knowledge of the elderly population regarding the importance of eye care by physicians plays an important role in reducing the burden of cataract.
