BioMed Central
Z7Gl^4zn Page 1 of 7
~Bi{k'A9 (page number not for citation purposes)
-gzY~a BMC Ophthalmology
w~S~ Research article Open Access
@0qDhv s Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
/q
eSR3WC population-based surveys 6 years apart
a+_F^ Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
$mF(6<w Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
.o_?n.H'& Westmead, NSW, Australia
L(
ni6- Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
}aJK^>^>A Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au a#NP69 * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
*]uj0@S Abstract
h5>38Kd Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
/EXubU73 subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
P-*=e8z{ Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
HbUadPr cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
lDd8dT-Q. cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
!~5=tK photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
F,l%SQCyj cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
.}6Mj]7?i Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
`;OEdeAM who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
zV<vwIUrr 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
n!>#o1Qr an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
Q x]zz4jD two surveys.
|x ~<Dc>0* Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
$!-a)U,w$B prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
#ivN-WKCl prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
z$q:Yg the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
ji~P?5(: prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
ji(Y?vhQt Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
VSJ08Ngi
distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
,svj(HP$ The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
]PI|Xl Background
nYv`{0S+m Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
:.k)! impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
OlV'#D
estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
!_|rVg. affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
s7~[7
aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
;J)8#| for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
*YI>Q@F9 be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
<g^!xX<r? Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
-}W` most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
G \S >H cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
xzRs
;AXOp Published: 20 April 2006
96&Y BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
)/:&i<Q: Received: 14 December 2005
U/|H%b Accepted: 20 April 2006
SuHv{u45 This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 M_4:~&N$ © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Ofyz,%
|Q This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
;8G( l which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ARZ5r48)
BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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LQnkpy3A (page number not for citation purposes)
wM^_pah#Y5 of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
4rh*&' in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
LE|*Je3a Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
B~0L'8WzW increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
[;Q8xvVZ' fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
ww]^H$In from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
C(7Y5\"P The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
D{](5?$`| years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
\xH#X=J Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
b Hr2LhQCN increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
Zm:Wig
,a 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
V0gk8wD population-based samples with a similar age range
;?y*@*2u [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
uh~/ybR would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
y=H^U. and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
;JcOm&d/hk benefits to a greater number of older people and an
fwojFS.K increased number of persons with surgery performed on
Sd3KY9, both eyes.
_u`NIpXSP Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
<bwsK,C link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
>+[uV^2[ surgery and eye health care provision. This report
m[7i<
'+S aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
XIu3n9g^# and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
[mSK!Y@u (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
O?8^I< surveys 6 years apart.
,KlTitJl\+ Methods
yJaQcGxE" The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
Lc|5&<8ZG1 cohort study of common eye diseases and other
OE!:`Bo3T health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
Vrf+~KO7 residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
@15%fX`*o areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
~RVx~hh Participants were identified through a census and were
!8"516!d|p invited to participate. The study was approved at each
x@F"ZiYD@O stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
q|,I\H5} of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
%C=
{\]-2~ Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
-{>Nrx| of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
MOJ-q3H^W was obtained from each participant.
<^&NA<2 Details of the methods used in this study have been
&0O1tM*v described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
B.&ly/d (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
v7O&9a; 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
jNN$/ZWm Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
t
;9f7~ during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
vrsO]ctI cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
}-m/
'Q the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
8jxgSB", newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
)<
~1AL eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
ZD1UMB0$4 this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
ZoB
?F BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
M'D;2qo and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
:8U=L'4 Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
]*pALT6 at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
XpWqL9s_E including demographic, family and medical history. A
qFmvc detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
pB{QO4qn slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
p"/1Kwqx Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
)'M<q,@<( Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
MP?9k )f lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
-[~ UX!XFM previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
zbP0! performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
#KZ- "$ Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
~=P&wBnJ were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
kRnh20I estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
=PyU9C-@ Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
%MgQ. involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
g ZhE\ when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
Yd lXMddE Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
5KU}dw>*g using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
ofl3G
{u [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
A\lnH5A was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
g^"",!J/ was defined to include persons who had previous
/iNCb&[
cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
gA~BhDS types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
|vA3+kG kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
+"Ek?
)? for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
!)ey~Suh reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
/ O6n[qj| simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
d~uK/R-KD nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
L{Epkay,{ by an ophthalmologist (PM).
e2UbeP In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
s#?Y^bgH ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
V:)k@W?P available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
{ ;);E while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
EU
TTeFp Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
O*rKV2\ 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
.
[+ObF9= assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
Pe!uk4}w with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
u2y?WcMv cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
cIK-VmO between the two groups, as reported previously
'wvZnb [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
k# ZO4 or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
h|m h_T{+ cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
K=M5d^K<E missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
G9:[W"P for nuclear cataract assessment.
a "EP ` Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
+dSe"W9 System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
X3%7VFy9 prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
?o$6w(]'' the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
@G^]kDFM{ We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
fBS;~;l interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
fI`6]?W group were independent between the two cross-sectional
FGG Fi( surveys.
]}i_Nq W) BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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^,
q\S (page number not for citation purposes)
4(& W>E Results
|0ACapp! Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
i*#Gq6qZq previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
\,!FL))yC distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
Z<;<!+, characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
:@KWp{ D7 II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
qi;@A-cq hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
P7&a~N$T6W Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
0yfmQ=,X shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
320Wm)u>: was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
=&U JFu respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
$fPf/yQmC prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
"uDLty?*k (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
eA$9)K1GO increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
e57}.pF^ cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
AH;0=<n
period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
q*{i /=~ (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
:[#HP66[O5 was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
gs_"H I and II, respectively).
oil s;*q After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
AmM^& stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
q{n~v>wU surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
>(ku* prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
y)t< r not altered.
/FJAI Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
lj/?P9 cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
\S
[: II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
_&FcHwRy increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
=O?<WJoK both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
CN#`m]l. between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
=SA@3)kHH cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
;Z-xum{ years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
AFGWlC#` in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
H[U$4
%t 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
(NyS2
` consistent between the two surveys, except for a
x$QOOE] reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
:/c=."z. and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
~=aD*v<3d years).
PEW^Vl-6q Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
|Kky+* observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
4ZrX=e, cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
vQ2kL`@ but the difference was only significant for cortical
zGHP{a1O7 cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
*>h"}e41 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
):;
&~ and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
<]eWr:; Table 1: Participant characteristics.
lO3$V JI Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
FUkO$jnO n % n %
NVU @m+m~ Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
)WF]v"t 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
xPWzm
hF 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
\`}Rdr!p% 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
0%+S@_| 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
!4\`g? 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
0+jR,5| 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
>&6pBtC_ 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
}J73{ 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
5+\[x` 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
~B;kFdcVXn Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
_p <W Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
:0|]cHm Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
B38_1X7 History of:
MlaViw Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
PeGA+0bm
Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
T4dLuJl Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
NBEcx>pma Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
9g3e( z@ Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
3>YG n = number of persons affected
O32p8AxEz * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
(jd)sf6Tj[ ^ P < 0.01
j oDY BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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piKYO+;W' (page number not for citation purposes)
nt.A X t
,<R/jHZP9 rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
.RFijr in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
X3&-kU (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
cdiDfiE and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
hr3RC+ y Discussion
Br^4N9 Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
,l/~epx4v) with similar age and gender distribution showed
x}v]JEIf[Q that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
=j#1HI=Fe stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
j#L"fW^GM to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
[Q+8Ku with totally independent samples within each age group,
%+Hhe]J ld confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
Hl-!rP.?0 survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
Ilt!O^ the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
&j=FxF9o same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
mHCp^g4Q reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
p1~u5BE7O variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
n^vL9n_N may have contributed to the observed difference
dxHKXw in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
3sr>?/>: Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
$Ro]]NUz| Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
tF lLKziU n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
B=)&43)\ Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
;Q*=AW 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
)}ygzKEa 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
udw>{3> 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
\l)Jb*
t 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
$ZnLY uGb 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
D*7JE 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
]x)^/d 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
4#<r}j12z 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
f@JMDJ PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
NMaZ+g!t( 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
t<8vgdD 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
yg}zK>j^vC 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
)w.+( v( 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
%63zQFk 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
++>HU{ 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
u.\F
Na 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
^a>3U l{ 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
ENx1) ] Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
FYwMmb
~3 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
oe (})M 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
rE->z 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
,K/l;M5I 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
s&Bk@a8 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
=1|^) 4M,x 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
+,;"?j6<p 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
U-~6<\Mf 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
2SjH7
' n = number of persons
Z--A:D> * 95% Confidence Limits
~mSW.jy}=- Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
F.rNh`44 Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
a *hWODYn Mountains Eye Study.
Tasmbo^mAF 0
w"Pn
N 10
g3 6:OK" 20
[TW?sW^0 30
l1 M
% 40
mp'Z.4 50
&gxWdG}qx] cortical PSC nuclear any
QLPb5{>KDS cataract
;c/|LXc\ Cataract type
?DGe}?pX %
21T#NYfew Cross-section I
ia9=&Hy]) Cross-section II
)X2/_3 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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M1mx {<]A (page number not for citation purposes)
;_K3/: prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
k4E2OyCFoJ relatively stable over the 6-year period.
hEh` cBO Although different population-based studies used different
R/WbcQ) grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
V+$^4Ht prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
u\AL`'v different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
-u$U~?|` suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
p9y@5z of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
ufi:aE=} other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
KXiStwS prevalent type [12,21-23].
!jTxMf
Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
9_b_O T 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
~( ;HkT age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
=T- jG_.H prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
W9G1wU same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
xE5VXYU thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
\v_R]0m\ surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
Pr_DMu A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
Gspb\HJ^ over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
YD,<]q% definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
E*vh<C prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
?dyt!>C level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
|vPU]R>6 than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
}F';"ybrU) groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
C({r1l4[D likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
+&4@HHU{G with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
EEP&Y? that functional vision and reading performance were high
pHzl/b8 in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
5p>rQq
0 cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
Rjn%<R2nW (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
"9#hk3*GqX overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
4*9BAv was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
X2mZ~RB(p to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
6t{G{ ] nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
w:9M6+mM^ than the other two types of cataract. This could have
u/apnAW@M resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
wAo6:) to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
v)
aV(Oa prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
E
<N% more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
?L"x>$ of any cataract.
{8556> \~ Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
r_MP[]f|0 among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
N}Or+:"O:q of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
,U~in)\
U assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
rAk;8
)O$ both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
w{riXOjS4 assessment of temporal changes.
I:WPP'L4o Measurement error could also have partially contributed
f\z9?Z(~ to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
CdKs+x&tZ Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
I5E5,{ potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
; hU9_e variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
H'I5LYsXO~ slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
(`<B#D;
grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
r;O?`~2'4 camera and the same two graders who graded photos
Uv(}x7e) from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
$#_^uWN-M of a partial influence from photographic variation
lUiO | on this result.
_zLEHEZ- A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
N@"e^i than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
I]B9+Z?xo both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
;1k_J~Qei from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
HS|x Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
"WqM<kLa Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
(A;HB@)[A could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
5;[0Q study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
17VN
w/Y lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
7KtgR=-Lb cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
R!WeSgKCs factors were detected and no gender difference
M<@9di7c was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
72y!cK6 in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
TSsx^h8/
levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
U27ja|W^ women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
$-)y59w" Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
n4zns,:)/ Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
V{0 V/Nv n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
JM*rPzp Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
t;[Q&Jl Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
s3M#ua#mX PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
Vb2")+*: Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
T f^
O( Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
NO#^_N`#\ Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
-A Nq!$E n = number of persons
1 z[blNs& * 95% Confidence Limits
,I[A~ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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Page 6 of 7
zdDJcdbGd1 (page number not for citation purposes)
JDC,] cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
c>
Ljv('bj prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
D%.<}vG exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
'?!2h' or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
o6;VrpaNi also be related to these observations and warrant further
7h/{F({r= study.
k<S!| Conclusion
#kGxX@0 In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
BcoE&I?[m| apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
?|Mmz@ of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
';7|H|,F overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
LvS3c9|Aj 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
v]27+/a$c reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
Yui:=GgUrr Competing interests
Wkv**X} The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
J XnPKAN Authors' contributions
}fs;yPl, AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
_V|'iz9. and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
Q
-&]Vg photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
HIeMV,.QN ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
9Au+mIN reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
BmUzsfD study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
;3sT>UB and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
M+^
K, approved the final manuscript.
U>x2'B v Acknowledgements
c\4n 7m,y This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
qkUr5^1 Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
2i(|? XJ^ abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
L{fP_DIa (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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