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PubMed1999

Acceleration of development of diabetic cataract by hyperlipidemia and low high-density lipoprotein in rats.

Diabetic cataracts are thought to be caused by hyperglycemia associated with disturbed glucose metabolism. Diabetes mellitus often involves abnormal lipid metabolism in addition to abnormal glucose metabolism. To date, however, very few studies have counted hyperlipidemia as a risk factor for diabetic cataracts. The present study was undertaken to determine whether this abnormal lipid metabolism is a risk factor for diabetic cataracts in rats. Cataracts were caused by streptozotocin (STZ) administration in the ordinary diet or cholesterol rich diet fed rats. When rats with STZ (65 mg/kg)-induced diabetes mellitus were fed an ordinary diet, cataracts became evident at 9 weeks in 26.7% of animals, and increased to an incidence of 53.3% after 10 weeks of STZ treatment. However, in rats with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus that were fed a cholesterol rich diet to induce severe hyperlipidemia and low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, cataracts were observed one week earlier, after 8 weeks of treatment, in 40.0% of animals, with an increase to a 53.3% incidence and an 86.7% incidence after 9 and 10 weeks of STZ treatment, respectively. Plasma glucose levels did not differ between the groups. These results suggest that hyperlipidemia and low HDL cholesterol are associated with an earlier onset and an elevated incidence of diabetic cataracts. We then investigated the relationship between plasma lipids and cataracts by STZ (45-85 mg/kg) administration. The results showed that the onset of cataracts correlated positively with plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, non-HDL cholesterol and glucose levels, and negatively with HDL cholesterol levels. The results of this study suggest that hyperlipidemia and low HDL cholesterol levels may be risk factors for the onset of diabetic cataracts and that diabetic cataracts may be accelerated by hyperlipidemia and low HDL cholesterol in rats.

Albumins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacological treatment strategies in age-related cataracts.

Cataract is the major cause of blindness worldwide and at present the only approved treatment in many countries including the UK and USA is surgical removal of the lens. In other countries various anti-cataract drugs are available without proof of their efficacy. Research is continuing into the possible benefits of several groups of drugs and some vitamins. The first to be studied were sorbitol-lowering agents (aldose reductase inhibitors) based on the sorbitol hypothesis for diabetic cataract. Sorbitol-lowering agents have distinct effects in vitro and many of them delay the development of cataract in galactose-fed rats. A few delay cataract in diabetic rats but none have been proved effective in clinical trials, although these continue. Aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen delay diabetic cataract in rats, and have been shown to delay other experimental cataracts. Case-control studies from 3 continents indicate that these drugs, or at least aspirin, protect against cataract. Results of studies on all 3 drugs indicate a benefit even at low doses. Population-based studies did not identify any protection against early lens opacities but tiny opacities that do not impair vision are not a problem. Bendazac protects lens proteins in vitro and delays cataractogenesis in x-irradiated rats. In humans, it reached the clinical trial stage but most trials have been small and with subjective criteria of opacification. One objectively monitored trial suffered from a high drop-out rate. Other preparations studied less extensively include vitamins, aminoguanidine to prevent protein cross-linking in diabetes and agents designed to boost glutathione levels. It is probable that some agents which may delay or prevent cataract will be proved effective soon, and in the end there may be different drugs to delay cataract in different high risk groups. This is what might be expected of a multifactorial disease, although compounds that intervene in the final common pathways to cataract could have a broad efficacy.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

A rural population based case-control study of senile cataract in India.

PURPOSE: Senile cataract contributes to 75% of blindness in India and there is a growing backlog of cataract cases needing surgery. The present study seeks clues to the etiology of senile cataract, so that strategies to prevent or even delay cataract formation could be planned. METHODS: Using a community based case-control design, 258 cases & 308 controls from one centre and 301 cases & 591 controls from another were studied. The subjects were from rural areas and were aged 40-60 years. Logistic regression analysis technique was employed to study the associations between senile cataract and various variables. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure, duration of exposure to sunlight per day were associated with senile cataract in both the centres (OR = 1.4 & 1.5 for systolic BP and 1.6 & 1.4 for exposure to sunlight). Utilization of rice gruel (OR = 0.5), duration of exposure to fire & dust per day (OR = 1.8), family history of cataract (OR = 5.0), use of cheap cooking fuels (OR = 1.8), increased height (OR = 0.7) and increased number of hours of work per day (OR = 0.7) were other variables that showed significant association in either of the centres. CONCLUSION: Senile cataract appears to have a multi factorial etiology. Though the study provided some clues to the etiology of senile cataract, further studies are needed to know the specific role of these factors in the causation of cataract, so that any preventive or control measures could be initiated in the community. Till such time, we have to fall back on the available surgical approach in control of senile cataract.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Cataract formation after pars plana vitrectomy.

To investigate the duration and pattern of cataract formation after pars plana vitrectomy, thirty-three eyes from 33 patients with complete data from March 1995 to January 2000 were collected in this study. The time and pattern of cataract formation was analyzed according to Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III). The correlation between the mean cataract progression and follow-up time was determined by simple regression and correlation analysis. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were the main causes of patients with vitreoretinopathy who underwent pars plana vitrectomy procedure. Twenty-one patients (63.6%) had diabetes mellitus and 11 patients (33.3%) had hypertension. Four eyes (13.8%) received intravitreal gas injection after pars plana vitrectomy. The correlation between cataract progression and follow-up time was clinically significant (p < 0.05). Thirty-one patients (94%) were nuclear cataract, the mean time of cataract formation being 9.1 months; 15 patients (46.9%) were cortical cataract, the mean time of formation being 8 months; and 24 patients (72.7%) were posterior subcapsular cataract, the mean time of formation being 13.3 months. Cataract formation after pars plana vitrectomy is not infrequent. Nuclear cataract is the most common type in this study. Vitreous microenvironmental changes, post-vitrectomy uveitis, intravitreal gas, and patient age may be the key points of cataract formation after surgery. The mechanism of longer-term effect of pars plana vitrectomy on lens status is still unknown and merits further study.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Lens epithelial cell death and reduction of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in human anterior polar cataracts.

PURPOSE: In light of the growing body of data implicating apoptosis in cataractogenesis, and in particular, the reported detection of apoptosis in posterior capsular opacification, the purported etiology of which, like that of anterior polar cataracts, is an aberrant transdifferentiation of lens epithelial cells into myofibroblastic cells, we hypothesized that apoptosis could also occur in anterior polar cataracts. Here we sought to examine whether apoptotic cell death occurs in lens epithelial cells from patients with anterior polar cataracts. METHODS: Cell death of lens epithelial cells from anterior polar cataracts, nuclear cataracts, and non-cataractous clear lenses was measured by TUNEL assay and DNA fragmentation assay. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Cell death was detected in specimen from patients with anterior polar cataracts by TUNEL assay. DNA fragmentation assay showed the characteristic laddering pattern from the genomic DNA from anterior polar cataracts. The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and its protein was markedly decreased in lens epithelial cells from patients with anterior polar cataracts. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that apoptotic cell death might occur in lens epithelial cells from anterior polar cataracts and decreased expression of Bcl-2 might play a role in the pathologic cellular mechanism of anterior polar cataracts.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

The study of G6PD in erythrocyte and lens in senile and presenile cataract.

The G6PD activity of erythrocytes in 113 male patients with senile and presenile cataract and 86 controls, and G6PD activity of lens in 30 patients with senile cataract and 42 controls were reported. The cataractous group had higher frequency of G6PD deficiency and lower average G6PD level in erythrocytes and lenses, but without statistical significance. The frequency of G6PD deficiency of erythrocytes in presenile cataractous group was higher than that of senile cataractous group but with no statistical significance too. However, the average G6PD level of erythrocytes in presenile cataractous group was lower than that of senile cataractous group and with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The G6PD activity of lenses only presenile in the cortex and have a positive correlation with that of erythrocytes. There was a case with deficiency of G6PD both of erythrocytes and cataractous lenses in both eyes. The results indicate that the deficiency of G6PD might be one of the cataractous pathogenetic factor for presenile cataract. Measurement of G6PD activity of erythrocytes among population might be of significance in finding the risk factor for cataract.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Identification and functional clustering of global gene expression differences between human age-related cataract and clear lenses.

PURPOSE: Age-related cataract is a multi-factorial disease with a poorly understood etiology. Numerous studies provide evidence that the human eye lens has evolved specific regulatory and protective systems to ameliorate lens damage associated with cataract. Other studies suggest that the presence of cataract is associated with the altered expression of specific genes including metallothionein IIa, osteonectin, transglutaminase 2, betaig-h3, multiple ribosomal proteins, ADAM9, and protein phosphatase 2A. Here, we sought to identify further gene expression changes that are associated with cataract and to cluster the identified genes into specific biological pathways. METHODS: Oligonucleotide microarray hybridization was used to analyze the full complement of gene expression differences between lens epithelia isolated from human age-related cataract relative to clear lenses. The expression levels of a subset of the identified genes were further evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The identified genes were functionally clustered into specific categories and the probability of over-representation of each category was determined using the computer program EASE. RESULTS: 412 transcripts were observed to be increased and 919 transcripts were observed to be decreased by 2 fold or more in lens epithelia isolated from age-related cataract relative to clear lenses. Of these, 74 were increased and 241 were decreased at the 5 fold level or greater. Seventeen genes selected for further confirmation exhibited similar trends in expression when examined by RT-PCR using both the original and separately prepared clear and cataract RNA populations. Functional clustering of the identified genes using the EASE bioinformatics software package revealed that, among others, transcripts increased in cataract are associated with transcriptional control, chromosomal organization, ionic and cytoplasmic transport, and extracellular matrix components while transcripts decreased in cataract are associated with protein synthesis, defense against oxidative stress, heat-shock/chaperone activity, structural components of the lens, and cell cycle control. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that cataract is associated with multiple previously identified and novel changes in lens epithelial gene expression and they point to numerous pathways likely to play important roles in lens protection, maintenance, and age-related cataract.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Epidemiology based etiological study of pediatric cataract in western India.

BACKGROUND: Cataract is responsible for about 10% blindness among children in India. Etiology of cataract is not well defined especially for childhood cataracts and epidemiological data for Indian population is not available in details. AIM: This study was performed to survey the causes of childhood cataracts and to identify the preventable factors in four western states of India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The present study is a hospital-based, prospective study on 172 consecutive pediatric cataract patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Type of cataract was determined using slit-lamp bio-microscopy or operation microscope after mild general anesthesia especially on very young babies. Other anomalies of eye were determined using appropriate ophthalmic instruments. Parents of the patients were interviewed in their native language using a standardized questionnaire. Biochemical and microbiological tests such as for rubella, reducing sugar and blood glucose were also performed. RESULTS: Out of 172 children, 88.4% had non-traumatic cataract and 11.6% had traumatic cataracts. Among non-traumatic cataracts, 7.2% were hereditary, 4.6% were due to congenital rubella syndrome, 15.1% were secondary and 73.0% were undetermined. In the group of undetermined cases, during pregnancy 67% of the mother had history of illness, and 22% had taken medications during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that nearly 12% of non-traumatic cataract is due to potentially preventable causes. Health education of women to childbearing age and school children can decrease incidence of pediatric cataracts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Crystallins in water soluble-high molecular weight protein fractions and water insoluble protein fractions in aging and cataractous human lenses.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to comparatively analyze crystallin fragments in the water soluble high molecular weight (WS-HMW) and in the water insoluble (WI) protein fractions of human cataractous (with nuclear opacity) and age matched normal lenses to determine the identity of crystallin species that show cataract specific changes such as truncation and post-translational modifications. Because these changes were cataract specific and not aging specific, the results were expected to provide information regarding potential mechanisms of age related cataract development. METHODS: The WS-alpha-crystallin, WS-HMW protein, and WI protein fractions were isolated from normal lenses of different ages and from cataractous lenses. The three fractions were subjected to two dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis (IEF in the first dimension and SDS-PAGE in the second dimension). Individual spots from 2D gels were trypsin digested and the tryptic fragments were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The 2D protein profiles of WS-alpha-crystallin fractions of normal human lenses showed an age related increase in the number of crystallin fragments. In young normal lenses, the WS-alpha-crystallin fragments were mostly C-terminally truncated, but in older lenses these were both N- and C-terminally truncated. The WS-HMW protein fraction from normal lenses contained mainly fragments of alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin, whereas additional fragments of betaB1- and betaA3-crystallin were present in this fraction from cataractous lenses. Similarly, the WI proteins in normal lenses contained fragments of alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin, but cataractous lenses contained additional fragments of betaA3- and betaB1-crystallin. The modifications identified in the WS-HMW and WI crystallin species of cataractous lenses were truncation, oxidation of Trp residues, and deamidation of Asn to Asp residues. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the components of WS-HMW and WI protein fractions of cataractous lenses differed from normal lenses. Selective insolubilization of fragments of betaA3/A1- and betaB1-crystallin occurred during cataract development compared to normal lenses. Further, the crystallin species of cataractous lenses showed increased truncation, deamidation of Asn to Asp residues, and oxidation of Trp residue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Prevalence of cataract in 35-64 years old Kaunas city population].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of lens opacity among 35-64 years old Kaunas population as well as to evaluate the stage and type of age-related cataract and its distribution in the groups of age and gender. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material of our study was Kaunas city population aged 35 to 64 years who participated in the scientific Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA-4) study during 2001-2002 in the Laboratory of Population Researches, Institute of Cardiology of Kaunas University of Medicine. During this study random sampling method was used for grouping of 1354 persons according to the age and gender (596 males and 759 females). A total of 2708 lens were examined using the Lens Opacity Classification System (LOCS III) after dilatation of pupils. All the investigated persons were divided into decade age groups: 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years. All of them were divided into two groups: with cataract and without. Those who had cataract were divided into three groups according to the three stages of disease. All lenses were divided into seven groups: clear lens, posterior subcapsular, nuclear, cortical and mixed cataract, aphakia and pseudophakia. RESULTS: The lens opacities were present in 106 (17.8%) males and 141 (18.6%) females. The lens opacities of both eyes were observed in 91.3% of investigated persons. In all groups with cataract, the 1st stage comprised 71.6%, 2nd--22.5% and 3rd--6.0% of cases. The prevalence of cataract in decade aged groups according to the stages, respectively in men and women was: among 35-44 years old--1st stage cataract 4.0% and 3.5%, 2nd--unidentified in both groups, 3rd stage--1.0% and unidentified; 45-54 years old--1st stage 9.7% and 9.7%, 2nd--1.0% and 1.1%, 3rd--1.5% and 0.4%; among aged of 55-64 years--the 1st stage as 23.8% and 26.0%, 2nd--9.9% and 11.8%, 3rd--2.0% and 1.5%. In both groups the nuclear cataract dominated (68.2%); in male group--72.4% and female--65.0%. Mixed type comprised 18.3% of cases, respectively 17.9% in males and 18.6% in females, cortical--10.7%, respectively--7.7% and 12.9%; posterior subcapsular--2.8%, respectively--2.8% and 3.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The lens opacities were found in 17.8% of males and 18.6% of females among investigated 35-64 years old population of Kaunas city. In the groups of both genders domination of nuclear cataract and the 1st stage of all forms of cataract was observed. The incidence of cataract increases significantly with age.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Early clinical evaluation of visual function in patients with age-related cataract].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and glare contrast sensitivity in age-related cataract patients. METHODS: In this study, 115 eyes of 66 age-related cataract patients with a best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better, who had been classified into cortical cataract group (50 eyes of 31 subjects), nuclear sclerosis group (32 eyes of 17 subjects), posterior subcapsular cataract group (33 eyes of 18 subjects); and control group (34 eyes of 34 subjects) were examined with a contrast glare tester to assess contrast sensitivity and glare contrast sensitivity. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences among contrast sensitivity and glare contrast sensitivity in the cataract patients with different visual acuity at low, medium spatial frequency (P < 0.01); there were no statistically significant differences among those at high spatial frequency (P > 0.05). Cortical cataract was associated with the contrast sensitivity at low, medium spatial frequency, where the glare contrast sensitivity fell into at low, medium and high spatial frequency; in the patients with cataract of nuclear sclerosis was associated with the contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequency, where the glare contrast sensitivity was at low, medium and high spatial frequency; in contrast to posterior subcapsular cataract both the contrast sensitivity and glare contrast sensitivity (at low, medium, high spatial frequency) were lower than normal eyes (P < 0.05). Each spatial frequency of contrast sensitivity and glare contrast sensitivity in 57 cataract eyes with a best corrected visual acuity of 0.8 or better were lower than normal eyes. In those eyes the contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequency and glare contrast sensitivity at low and high spatial frequency had statistically significant difference compared with control (P < 0.05); other spatial frequency had no statistically significant difference among groups (P > 0.05). The glare contrast sensitivity in cataract eyes was lower than contrast sensitivity at visual angle of 6.3 degrees, 4.0 degrees, 2.5 degrees, 1.6 degrees, 1.0 degrees, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Contrast sensitivity and glare contrast sensitivity are reliable in evaluating visual function in the patients with early age-related cataract.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Radiation hybrid mapping of cataract genes in the dog.

PURPOSE: To facilitate the molecular characterization of naturally occurring cataracts in dogs by providing the radiation hybrid location of 21 cataract-associated genes along with their closely associated polymorphic markers. These can be used for segregation testing of the candidate genes in canine cataract pedigrees. METHODS: Twenty-one genes with known mutations causing hereditary cataracts in man and/or mouse were selected and mapped to canine chromosomes using a canine:hamster radiation hybrid RH5000 panel. Each cataract gene ortholog was mapped in relation to over 3,000 markers including microsatellites, ESTs, genes, and BAC clones. The resulting independently determined RH-map locations were compared with the corresponding gene locations from the draft sequence of the canine genome. RESULTS: Twenty-one cataract orthologs were mapped to canine chromosomes. The genetic locations and nearest polymorphic markers were determined for 20 of these orthologs. In addition, the resulting cataract gene locations, as determined experimentally by this study, were compared with those determined by the canine genome project. All genes mapped within or near chromosomal locations with previously established homology to the corresponding human gene locations based on canine:human chromosomal synteny. CONCLUSIONS: The location of selected cataract gene orthologs in the dog, along with their nearest polymorphic markers, serves as a resource for association and linkage testing in canine pedigrees segregating inherited cataracts. The recent development of canine genomic resources make canine models a practical and valuable resource for the study of human hereditary cataracts. Canine models can serve as large animal models intermediate between mouse and man for both gene discovery and the development of novel cataract therapies.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Expression and characterization of the catalytic subunit of telomerase in normal and cataractous canine lens epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the catalytic subunit of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is regionally distributed in canine lens epithelial cells (LEC), compare TERT and the RNA subunit of telomerase (TR) mRNA expression and TERT protein expression in normal and cataractous LEC, and to evaluate whether telomerase activity is present in the cytoplasm and nucleus from normal LEC. Finally, the expression of p23 and heat shock protein 90 (hsp90), coactivators of TERT in neoplastic cells, were evaluated in normal and cataractous LEC. METHODS: TERT protein was detected by imunohistochemical staining and western immunoblotting in normal and cataractous LEC. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure TERT and TR expression. Separated cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts from primary cultures of normal canine LEC were evaluated for TERT protein expression and telomerase activity. Western immunoblotting was performed on normal and cataractous LEC for p23 and hsp90, and coimmunoprecipitation was used to determine whether p23 and hsp90 were interacting with TERT in LEC. RESULTS: TERT expression in normal lens capsule whole mounts varied by region in normal LEC. All cataractous LEC demonstrated more intense TERT immunostaining in both the nucleus and cytoplasm when compared to normal LEC. Normal LEC expressed less TERT protein and less TERT and TR mRNA than cataractous LEC. Normal LEC expressed hsp90 while cataractous LEC did not; p23 was not significantly expressed in either normal or cataractous LEC. Neither hsp90 nor p23 interacted with TERT. CONCLUSIONS: The localization of TERT in normal LEC corresponded with the LEC's regional functions. There was more cytoplasmic TERT in the central region that corresponds with the need for inhibited apoptosis and for proliferative capabilities; there was more nuclear TERT in the germinal and equatorial regions corresponding with the need for proliferative capabilities. In addition, cataractous LEC demonstrated increased TERT protein and increased TERT and TR mRNA expression than normal LEC corresponding with their increased proliferative potential. However, the telomerase coactivators, p23 and hsp90, are not overexpressed and do not associate with TERT in cataractous LEC, suggesting that telomerase regulation in cataractous LEC, a somatic cell type, differs from that in neoplastic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The influence of age-related cataract on blue-on-yellow perimetry.

PURPOSE: The influence of cataract on the blue-on-yellow visual field is unknown. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of age-related cataract on the normal blue-on-yellow (B-Y), yellow-on-yellow (Y-Y) and white-on-white (W-W) visual field. METHODS: Forty normal subjects (age range, 60 to 81 years) randomly performed B-Y, Y-Y, and W-W perimetry using a modified Humphrey Field Analyser 640 (HFA) (Program 24-2). Twenty age-matched patients with cataract underwent the same testing paradigm. Cataract was classified using the LOCS II system. Ocular media absorption was measured with the HFA by determining the difference in scotopic sensitivity to 410-nm and 560-nm stimuli. Forward light scatter was measured by the direct compensation technique of van den Berg. Unweighted mean deviation (MD), short-term fluctuation, and corrected pattern standard derivation indices were calculated for each patient with cataract for each of the three stimulus combinations. RESULTS: Cataract produced an adverse effect on the MD (i.e., a more negative MD) in all patients for each of the three stimulus combinations. The magnitude depended on the degree and type of cataract and was highly correlated with forward light scatter. The attenuation in sensitivity was greatest for the B-Y and W-W stimulus combinations; the B-Y field was preferentially affected by posterior subcapsular cataract and the W-W field by anterior cortical cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract predominantly causes a general reduction in B-Y sensitivity. Caution therefore needs to be exercised in the interpretation of the B-Y visual field in patients in whom glaucoma and cataract coexist.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A prospective study of alcohol consumption and risk of cataract.

The role of alcohol as a determinant of age-related cataract is largely unexplored, although a possible influence has been suggested by previous retrospective and cross-sectional studies. We used the prospective data base of the Physicians' Health Study to examine the association between alcohol consumption and incidence of cataract as well as cataract extraction among U.S. male physicians. Participants in the Physicians' Health Study, a randomized trial of aspirin and beta-carotene among 22,071 male physicians 40-84 years of age at entry in 1982, were included in these analyses if they did not report cataract at baseline and if they provided information about alcohol consumption and other cataract risk factors. A total of 17,824 physicians satisfied these criteria. An incident cataract was defined as a self-report confirmed by medical record review, first diagnosed after randomization, with an age-related cause, and responsible for a reduction in best corrected visual acuity to 20/30 or worse. During 88,565 person-years of follow-up, 371 participants had a confirmed incident cataract and 110 underwent cataract extraction. Compared to physicians consuming alcohol less than once per month, daily consumers of alcohol had an age-adjusted relative risk (RR) of cataract of 1.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.95, 1.81). For posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract, the most disabling subtype in terms of vision loss, the RR was 1.38 (95% CI = 0.84, 2.27); for PSC cataract extraction, the RR was 1.43 (95% CI = 0.71, 2.88).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Incidence of cataract and retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis].

The incidence of cataract and retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis is reported. The subjects suffered from moderate or severe atopic dermatitis. Seventy-five patients (32 male and 43 female, age: 7-46, mean 19.7 years) had their initial examination at the Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University Hospital, from 1981 to 1990. Cataract was found in 13 (6 male and 7 female) out of the 75 patients (17.3%). All cases except one already had cataract at the initial visit. The average age was 21.2 years. Nine had bilateral cataracts and four had unilateral. Type of cataract in 22 eyes was anterior subcapsular cataract (n = 3), posterior subcapsular cataract (n = 8), anterior and posterior cataract (n = 9), and mature cataract (n = 2). Retinal detachment was associated in six (8.0%) out of the 75 patients. Four were male and two were female. The average age was 21.6 years (range 18-29). Three cases were bilateral and 3 unilateral. Five of nine eyes with retinal detachment had no history of intraocular surgery. Four of the nine had a history of cataract extraction (3 eyes) and trabeculectomy (1 eye). Tears were observed in 5 out of 9 eyes (small tears in the peripheral retina (n = 1), oral dialysis (n = 3), and breaks at the pars plicata (n = 1). Tears could not be observed in four eyes (44%). Detachment of the pars plana was found in seven eyes. Retinal detachment was always associated with cataract.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A retrospective-cohort study on the development of cataracts in dogs with diabetes mellitus: 200 cases.

The objective of the study was to determine the incidence and estimated median time to cataract formation in dogs with diabetes mellitus. The animals studied were 200 dogs with diabetes mellitus which were referred to a university teaching hospital between 1985 and 1995. Medical records from dogs with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were reviewed and, where necessary, further follow-up information was gathered from the referring veterinarian. Incidence rate and median time to diabetic cataract formation was calculated using survival-analysis techniques in a retrospective cohort study design. Among the 200 dogs in the study population, 23 had cataracts at the time of diabetes diagnosis that were presumed to be related to other disease processes. Of the remaining 177 dogs, 132 had documented cataract development with features suggestive as being secondary to diabetes. Twenty-three dogs did not have obvious cataracts at the time of their last examination while 22 dogs did not have cataracts at the time they were lost to follow-up. These 55 cases contributed to the statistical models as noncases of cataracts until the last date for which an examination was available. Half of the population had developed cataracts by the 170th day postdiagnosis of diabetes mellitus, while 75% and 80% of the population developed cataracts by 370 days and 470 days, respectively. The results of this study suggest that the majority of dogs with diabetes will develop cataracts within 5-6 months from the time of diagnosis of the disease, and that approximately 80% of dogs will develop cataracts within 16 months of diagnosis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

A randomized trial of beta carotene and age-related cataract in US physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the development of age-related cataract in a trial of beta carotene supplementation in men. DESIGN: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Male US physicians aged 40 to 84 years (n = 22 071) were randomly assigned to receive either beta carotene (50 mg on alternate days) or placebo for 12 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age-related cataract and extraction of age-related cataract, defined as an incident, age-related lens opacity, responsible for a reduction in best-corrected visual acuity to 20/30 or worse, based on self-report confirmed by medical record review. RESULTS: There was no difference between the beta carotene and placebo groups in the overall incidence of cataract (998 cases vs 1017 cases; relative risk [RR], 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91-1.09) or cataract extraction (584 vs 593; RR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.89-1.12). In subgroup analyses, the effect of beta carotene supplementation appeared to be modified by smoking status at baseline (P =.02). Among current smokers, there were 108 cases of cataract in the beta carotene group and 133 in the placebo group (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.95). Among current nonsmokers, there was no significant difference in the number of cases in the 2 treatment groups (884 vs 881; RR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.94-1.13). The results for cataract extraction appeared to be similarly modified by baseline smoking status (P =.05). CONCLUSIONS: Randomized trial data from a large population of healthy men indicate no overall benefit or harm of 12 years of beta carotene supplementation on cataract or cataract extraction. However, among current smokers at baseline, beta carotene appeared to attenuate their excess risk of cataract by about one fourth.

Adult↗