ABSTRACT
The present study included 280 patients with age-related cataract [153 males and 127 females] and 296 controls with similar age and sex distribution. All cases and controls were subjected to thorough personal and family history taking including consanguinity, occupation, residency, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, family history of age-related cataract and family pedigree analysis. Full clinical examination also included complete ophthalmological evaluation to determine the type of cataract using slit-lamp examination and visual acuity measurement. Seventy-five patients and 25 controls were subjected to the following investigations: Estimation of serum total protein, serum albumin and globulin levels, albumin/globulin [A/G] ratio, hemoglobin [Hb] level and red blood cells [RBCs] count. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS program for calculating t test, X2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis. The present study revealed that mixed cataract [i.e. presence of more than one type of cataract] was the commonest type of age-related cataract in Egypt [48.9% of cases]. Positive family history, consanguinity and exposure to ultraviolet irradiation were universal risk factors for all types of cataract among Egyptians. Diabetes mellitus was associated with nuclear and posterior subcapsular types of cataract, while hypertension had its effect on both cortical and posterior subcapsular types. Biochemical analysis revealed that the risk of age-related cataract increases with decreased level of serum total protein, decreased serum albumin and globulin levels, decreased RBCs count and hemoglobin level