The Prevalence and Morphological Characteristics of Senile Cataract in the Local Areas of Korea

ABSTRACT

The epidemiologic study to evaluate the prevalence rate and morphological characteristics of senile cataract in Korea was performed in two different geographic area with population-based study. The results of this study are as follow. In this study based on 40 years of age above, the prevalence rate of cataract was 32.8% in mountainous area (Chung Won) and 45.2% in rural area (Mun Kyung), it had a strong tendency to increase according to age in both areas. But there was no clear relationship in sexual difference. The classification of cataract to the stage showed that the incipient cataract was the most frequent stage in all age, but it was relatively decreased according to age. The immature, mature and hypermature cataract was increased according to age. In distribution of lens opacity to the morphological charactenstics, the single cortical opacity was the most frequent and the mixed opacity was the second in order, but the single nuclear and subcapsular opacity were rare. According to age, the cortical opacity was decreased, mixed opacity was increased, but nucJear and subcapsular opacity were not changed.