Risk Factors for the Progression of Age-related Incipient Cataract

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate risk factors for the progression of age-related incipient cataract. METHODS: Among patients who visited the authors' clinic (SNUH) from Jun 2002 to Jan 2003 for age-related incipient cataract, those meeting one of the following two criteria were recruited 1) non-progressive group BCVA (best corrected visual acuity) decrease by two lines or less for 5 years or more according to Snellen's chart, 2) progressive group BCVA decrease by four lines or more in 5 years or less. Age, sex, regular exercise, smoking, drinking, anti-cataract eyedrops, duration of menopause, hormone replacement therapy, weight, height, and BMI (body mass index) were investigated by questionnaire and compared between the two groups. If both eyes met the eligibility criteria, one eye was randomly selected. RESULTS: There were not statistically significant differences regarding age, sex, anti-cataract eyedrops application, regular exercise, duration of menopause and hormone replacement therapy, smoking, drinking, weight, and height. However, the mean BMI of the progressive group was significantly higher than that of the non-progressive group (p=0.041, Student t-test). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with age-related incipient cataract, high BMI may be related to more rapid progression of incipient cataract, thus resulting in faster visual loss.