Prevalence of cataract in the Speedwell Cardiovascular Study: a cross-sectional survey of men aged 65–83

Abstract

Aims To ascertain the prevalence of cataract in a representative group of men who have been followed since 1979 for cardiovascular disease. Methods Of 2348 men aged 45-63 recruited in 1979 to the Speedwell Cardiovascular Study, 1420 were alive and willing to take part in further studies in 1997. They were sent a questionnaire about their eye health and invited to an ophthalmological examination at Bristol Eye Hospital. Cataract was graded using the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III) method. Results Of the 1420 men, 26 died before they could be examined. Out of the remaining 1394 men, 949 presented for examination and full information was available for 936. Some information about eye health was obtainable for 394 men and 51 were not contactable. The prevalence of cataract increased with age and 36 men (3.8%) had had previous cataract surgery in either or both eyes. Of the remaining 903 men with no previous history of cataract surgery, cortical cataract was present in the right eye of 75 men (8.3%), nuclear (opalescence) in 128 (14.2%) and posterior subcapsular in 15 (1.7%). Five men (0.6%) had visual acuity of 6/60 or worse attributable to cataract in the right eye and 232 (25%) had visual acuity in one or both eyes of 6/24 or less at least partially attributable to cataract. There was no association between social class and the presence of cataract. Conclusions The prevalence of cataract in a representative cohort of men followed since 1979 for cardiovascular disease was comparable to that previously reported in the UK and is consistent with studies from around the world. It appears that substantial amounts of visual loss, attributable to cataract, are present in men. Further studies establishing the reasons for this should be undertaken. Eye (2002) 16, 275-280.

Cataract in Central Sri Lanka: Prevalence and Risk Factors from the Kandy Eye Study

“…Comparison between different studies is inherently difficult for a variety of reasons, and the use of standardized LOCS III classifications is probably the most accurate method. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Studies that used different classification systems reported significantly lower prevalence of cataract in Australia (22%) 12,13 and the United States (∼17.5%) 14,15 The prevalence of cataract surgery in this population is very similar to that found in the Meiktila Eye Study (3.9%), 5 but considerably lower than that of Southern India (9.4%). 9 Nuclear cataract is usually the most prevalent of the subtypes, followed closely by cortical cataract, with posterior subcapsular being the least common.…”

The British Asian Community Eye Study: Outline of results on the prevalence of eye disease in British Asians with origins from the Indian subcontinent

“…The prevalence of cataract in the present study (77%) is far higher than that reported in studies of predominantly white populations. Investigators of the Speedwell Cardiovascular Study documented a cataract prevalence of around 30% in men,[18] whilst this figure was 13% in the Framingham Eye Study. [19]…”

Cataract in rural Myanmar: prevalence and risk factors from the Meiktila Eye Study

“…However, using standardised definitions, the unadjusted prevalence of any cataract in rural Myanmar is significantly higher than in Taiwan,7 similar to that in Southern India8 and less than that in Singapore3 and rural Indonesia9 (table 5). Each of these estimates is still considerably higher than rates in nations such as the UK and France 10 11. The prevalence of cataract in people aged over 40 in Australia has been estimated at around 22%,12 while a review of cataract epidemiology in the United States reported approximately 17% prevalence in people aged over 40 13…”