Descriptive and risk factor analysis of infantile cataracts: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 2000-2011.

Using National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) data, we sought to estimate birth prevalence, describe clinical characteristics, and examine risk factors for infantile cataracts. We calculated birth prevalence using the numbers of NBDPS-eligible cataract cases and live births in the study area. We described case infants by the presence of associated ipsilateral eye defects (IEDs) and non-eye-related major birth defects. Using maternal exposure information collected via telephone interview, we conducted logistic regression analyses among the interviewed cases and controls. Birth prevalence of infantile cataracts was 1.07/10,000 live births. Unilateral cataracts were more often associated with IEDs, while infants with bilateral cataracts were more often preterm, full-term with low birth weight, or had non-eye-related major birth defects. Unilateral cataracts were positively associated with maternal nulliparity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18, 2.20; reference: multiparity), whereas bilateral cataracts were positively associated with maternal education <12 years (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.13, 3.82; reference: education >12 years), and foreign-born nativity (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.04, 3.52; reference: U.S.-born nativity). The current analysis can inform future epidemiological studies aimed at identifying mechanisms underlying the associations between infantile cataracts and complex maternal exposures, such as lower levels of education and foreign-born nativity.

Descriptive and risk factor analysis of nonsyndromic sacral agenesis: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.

Sacral agenesis is a rare birth defect characterized by partial or complete absence of the sacrum. We sought to (a) describe case characteristics, (b) estimate birth prevalence, and (c) identify risk factors for nonsyndromic sacral agenesis using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS). The NBDPS was a population-based, case-control study involving pregnancies with estimated dates of delivery from October 1997 through December 2011. We estimated birth prevalence using all NBDPS eligible cases. Using self-reported maternal exposure information, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify potential risk factors overall and among women without diabetes. The birth prevalence of sacral agenesis was 2.6/100,000 live births. In the multivariable analysis, multifetal pregnancy, pre-existing Type 1 diabetes, and pre-existing Type 2 diabetes were positively and significantly associated with sacral agenesis, albeit estimates were imprecise. Preexisting Type 1 diabetes was the strongest risk factor (adjusted odds ratio = 96.6, 95% confidence interval = 43.5-214.7). Among women without diabetes, periconceptional smoking was positively and significantly associated with sacral agenesis. Our findings underscore the importance of smoking cessation programs among women planning pregnancy and the importance of better understanding the role of glycemic control before and during pregnancy when designing interventions for primary prevention of sacral agenesis.

Low Macular Pigment Optical Density Is Associated with Manifest Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Older Women.

Background: Lower density of carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) in the macula (i.e., macular pigment) has been linked to greater risk for age-related eye disease. Objectives: We evaluated whether macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was associated with manifest primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among older women in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (CAREDS2). Methods: MPOD was measured with customized heterochromatic flicker photometry in women who attended CAREDS2 (2016-2019) and CAREDS1 (2001-2004) study visits. Manifest POAG at CAREDS2 was assessed using visual fields, disc photos, optical coherence tomography, and medical records. Age-adjusted linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate the cross-sectional association between POAG and MPOD at CAREDS2, and MPOD measured 15 years earlier at CAREDS1. Results: Among 426 CAREDS2 participants (mean age: 80 y; range: 69-98 y), 26 eyes with manifest POAG from 26 participants were identified. Glaucomatous eyes had 25% lower MPOD compared to nonglaucomatous eyes [mean (SE): 0.40 (0.05) compared with 0.53 (0.01)] optical density units (ODU), respectively (P = 0.01). Compared with MPOD quartile 1, odds for POAG were lower for women in quartiles 2-4 (P-trend = 0.01). After excluding eyes with age-related macular degeneration, associations were similar but not statistically significant (P-trend = 0.16). Results were similar for MPOD measured at CAREDS1. Conclusions: Our results add to growing evidence that low MPOD may be a novel glaucoma risk factor and support further studies to assess the utility of dietary interventions for glaucoma prevention.

Association of macular pigment optical density with retinal layer thicknesses in eyes with and without manifest primary open-angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between baseline macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and retinal layer thicknesses in eyes with and without manifest primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (CAREDS2). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: MPOD was measured at CAREDS baseline (2001-2004) via heterochromatic flicker photometry (0.5° from foveal centre). Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), macular ganglion cell complex (GCC), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and RNFL thicknesses were measured at CAREDS2 (2016-2019) via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Associations between MPOD and retinal thickness were assessed using multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Among 742 eyes (379 participants), manifest POAG was identified in 50 eyes (32 participants). In eyes without manifest POAG, MPOD was positively associated with macular GCC, GCL and IPL thicknesses in the central subfield (P-trend ≤0.01), but not the inner or outer subfields. Among eyes with manifest POAG, MPOD was positively associated with macular GCC, GCL, IPL and RNFL in the central subfield (P-trend ≤0.03), but not the inner or outer subfields, and was positively associated with peripapillary RNFL thickness in the superior and temporal quadrants (P-trend≤0.006). CONCLUSION: We observed a positive association between MPOD and central subfield GCC thickness 15 years later. MPOD was positively associated with peripapillary RNFL superior and temporal quadrant thicknesses among eyes with manifest POAG. Our results linking low MPOD to retinal layers that are structural indicators of early glaucoma provide further evidence that carotenoids may be protective against manifest POAG.

Nongenetic risk factors for infantile cataracts: Systematic review of observational studies.

INTRODUCTION: While infantile cataracts are a major cause of childhood blindness, risk factors remain unknown for approximately two-thirds of cases. METHODS: We systematically searched electronic databases PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus, from inception through March 2018, to identify relevant cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, case reports, and case series. We also manually screened bibliographies and consulted with experts in the field to identify additional publications. We reviewed cross-sectional studies, case reports, and case series and provided a narrative summary of the reported potential risk factors. We evaluated methodological qualities of cohort and case-control studies, extracted relevant data, and described statistically significant associations with infant, maternal, and paternal characteristics. Quality assessment and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently. All discrepancies were discussed with the senior author and resolved by consensus. RESULTS: Overall, 110 publications were included in the review, 33 of which were cohort and case-control studies. Most of these studies (n = 32) used population-based data and had either excellent (n = 31) or good (n = 2) methodological quality. Nine studies reported statistically significant associations with infant characteristics (preterm birth, low birth weight), maternal occupations and diseases during pregnancy (untreated hypertension, infections), and paternal sociodemographics (younger age, employment in sawmill industry during pregnancy). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic literature review provided a comprehensive summary of the known nongenetic risk factors for infantile cataracts, identified gaps in the literature, and provided directions for future research. Studies identifying modifiable risk factors are warranted to design interventions aimed at primary prevention of infantile cataracts.

Association of Macular Thickness With Age and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (CAREDS2), An Ancillary Study of the Women's Health Initiative.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship of retinal layer thickness with age and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2. Methods: Total retinal thickness within the macular area, and individual layer thickness was determined for CAREDS2 participants (n = 906 eyes, 473 women) from the Women's Health Initiative using Heidelberg optical coherence tomography (OCT). Mean measurements within the OCT grid were compared across age tertiles (69-78, 78-83, and 83-101 years) and AMD outcomes. Results: Mean retinal thickness in the central circle, inner ring, and outer ring were 277 ± 34 µm, 326 ± 20 µm, and 282 ± 15 µm, respectively. Thickness did not vary by age in the central circle, but decreased with age in the inner and outer circles (P ≤ 0.004). Specifically, ganglion cell (GCL), inner plexiform, and outer nuclear (ONL) layer thickness decreased with age (P ≤ 0.003). Age-adjusted retinal thickness in all three circles did not vary by AMD outcomes (486 without AMD and 413 with AMD). However, individual layers showed changes with GCL and photoreceptor thinning and retinal pigment epithelial thicknening in eyes with late AMD. After controlling for age and AMD, higher ONL thickness was associated with better visual acuity. Conclusions: In this cohort of older women, a decrease in perifoveal thickness was associated with increasing age, particularly in the inner retinal layers. Variabilty in thickness in AMD eyes was primarily due to outer retinal layers. Among all retinal layers, the ONL plays an important role in preserving visual acuity. Translational Relevance: The study provides a deeper understanding of age related changes to the retinal layers and their effect on visual loss.