Epidemiology of Risk Factors for Cataract at Chang-Nyung District, Kyung-Nam Province

ABSTRACT

The epidemiologic study to evaluate the risk factors and types of cataract had been performed in 210 cataract patients and in 103 normal controls at Chang-Nyung District, Kyung-Nam Province, from September 1995 to April 1996, using the slitlamp biomicroscopy and Scheimpflug camera(EAS-1000, Nidek, Japan). All the patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The results obtained are as follows 1. The most common type of cataract in Chang-Nyung District was nucleosclerotic opacity. 2. The dominant jobs were farmer and housewife. 3. The more sunlight exposure and heavy drinker were related to nucleosclerotic opacity and smoking habit also related to peripheral cortical opacity of lens. 4. The patients with diabetes mellitus were related with posterior subcapsular opacity ; those with arthritis related with nucleosclerotic opacity. 5. The patients with long-term use of herb medicine were related with peripheral cortical and nucleosclerotic opacity ; those with corticosteroid related with posterior subcapsular opacity. 6. There was no relationship between cataractogenesis and family history of cataract and parity in female. 7. The patients with nucleosclerotic opacity preferred grain and vegetables and those with posterior subcapsular opacity, fruit, meats and coffee. In conclusion, multi-factors are involved in the cataractogenesis including age, occupation, outdoor working hours, smoking, drinking habits, systemic disease, long-term used drug, family history, parity, favorite food, etc. Each factor is considered to be related to specific type of lens opacity.