Quality of life assessment for nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular patients before and after cataract surgery / Evaluación de la calidad de vida de pacientes nucleares, corticales y subcapsulares posteriores antes y después de la cirugía de cataratas

Purpose: The impact of visual outcomes of cataract surgery can be measured using a questionnaire. The aim of our study was to evaluate how patient quality of life changes after cataract surgery and if there are differences between the responses of patients with nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataracts, which has not been studied before. Method: We studied 210 cataract patients who were divided into 3 cataract groups based on their cataract type: nuclear (n = 80), cortical (n = 70), and posterior subcapsular (PSC) (n = 60). The patients completed the Visual Function Index (VF-14) questionnaire before, 2 weeks and 1 month after bilateral cataract surgery. The results were analysed using one-way ANOVA (significance level 5 %) and were compared over time and between the cataract groups. Results: Before the cataract surgery, cortical cataract patients had the lowest questionnaire score compared to nuclear and posterior subcapsular cataract groups (p = 0.08). After cataract surgery, cortical cataract patients experienced the greatest improvement in near distance daily activities, while PSC cataract patients experienced the greatest improvement in far distance daily activities (p = 0.38). Before surgery, nuclear cataract patients had the highest questionnaire scores compared to the other cataract groups (p = 0.08). Conclusion: At the 1 month follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences in questionnaire scores between the cataract groups for any of the questions. Overall, cortical cataract patients showed a trend to experience the greatest subjective improvement in quality of life after cataract removal, followed by nuclear and posterior subcapsular patients.(AU)

[Differential analysis of aqueous humor metabolomics between presenile cataract and senile cataract].

Objective: To explore the differences in metabolites and metabolic pathways in the aqueous humor between patients with presenile cataracts and senile cataracts. Methods: This metabolomic study was conducted at Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital from August 2020 to September 2022. Eight patients with presenile cataracts (8 eyes) and 8 patients with senile cataracts (9 eyes) were included. Data were collected, including age, gender, preoperative uncorrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, lens dysfunction index, and axial length. Aqueous humor and anterior capsule tissue samples were obtained during cataract surgery. Metabolites in the aqueous humor were detected using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in a non-targeted approach. The principal component analysis, differential analysis, clustering analysis, and correlation analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed metabolites. These metabolites were ranked based on the fold change (FC). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and metabolic enrichment analysis were used to identify differential pathways and potential biomarkers for presenile cataracts. Immunohistochemistry was conducted on anterior capsule tissues, and pyruvate levels were measured by colorimetry to validate metabolomic results. Results: Patients with presenile cataracts included 7 males and 1 female, with a mean age of (37.50±4.90) years. Patients with senile cataracts were 7 males and 1 female, with a mean age of (73.44±5.22) years. Except for age, there were no significant differences in baseline data (P>0.05). A total of 347 differential metabolites were identified, 10 of which were potential biomarkers for presenile cataract according to the ROC curve analysis (all P<0.05), including propoxycaine (log2FC=7.26), 2-methyl-2, 3, 4, 5-tetrahydro-1, 5-benzodiazepine-4-ketone (log2FC=6.35), l-pyroglutamic acid (log2FC=-1.72), leanly-proline (log2FC=-0.77), and choline (log2FC=-0.56) in the positive ion mode, and N-phenylacetyl glutamine (log2FC=-1.84), pyruvate (log2FC=1.07), ascorbic acid (log2FC=0.92), pseudouracil nucleoside (log2FC=-0.68), and palmitic acid (log2FC=-0.51) in the negative ion mode. The metabolic enrichment analysis identified 72 differential pathways (32 cationic and 40 anionic), with significant differences in glutathione metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, and the citric acid cycle (P<0.05). The experimental validation showed reduced lactate dehydrogenase and increased pyruvate levels in patients with presenile cataracts (P<0.05). Conclusions: Pyruvate and nine other metabolites may serve as potential biomarkers for presenile cataracts. Pathways involving glutathione metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, and the citric acid cycle are notably dysregulated in patients with presenile cataracts.

[Cautious application of multifocal intraocular lenses in children with congenital cataracts].

Multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs) have demonstrated efficacy and safety in adult cataract surgery, yet they encounter many challenges in pediatric applications. This article elaborates on the difficulties in biometric measurements in children, the unpredictability of postoperative refraction outcomes, the lack of long-term spectacle independence in children with MIOLs, the absence of significant advantages in correcting childhood amblyopia, and the potential increase in the rate of secondary surgeries. Due to the insufficient clinical evidence supporting the use of MIOLs in children at present, it is proposed that MIOLs be cautiously applied to children with congenital cataracts in clinical practice. Further research in this area is encouraged.

[Effect of femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification on corneal endothelium and prognosis of diabetic patients with cataract with different nuclear hardness].

Objective: To assess the impact of femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification on corneal endothelial characteristics and prognosis among patients with type 2 diabetes and age-related cataracts, considering varying nuclear hardness. Methods: This non-randomized controlled trial involved 161 patients (161 eyes) with type 2 diabetes undergoing cataract extraction at Weifang Eye Hospital between March 2020 and December 2022. The cohort comprised 73 males and 88 females, with an average age of (65.9±5.23) years. Based on patient preference, 101 individuals underwent conventional phacoemulsification (group A), while 60 chose femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification (group B). Patients were further stratified based on Emery-Little grade of lens nuclei into A1/B1 (grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ), A2/B2 (grade Ⅲ), and A3/B3 (grade Ⅳ) subgroups. The study compared effective phacoemulsification time (EPT), cumulative energy release of phacoemulsification (CDE), central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), and hexagon cell ratio (HEX) before and after surgery at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Results: The intraoperative EPT of patients in groups A and B were (6.52±4.93) and (5.63±4.31)s, respectively, and the CDE were 11.57%±5.21% and 10.68%±6.02%, respectively. The differences between them were not statistically significant (all P>0.05).There were no significant differences in EPT and CDE between groups A1 and B1 (all P>0.05), and there were statistically significant differences between groups A2 and B2, A3 and B3 (all P<0.05).The postoperative CCT was increased in both groups.There were no statistically significant differences in CCT between A1 and B1 groups at different time after surgery (all P>0.05), and there were statistically significant differences in CCT between A2 and B2, A3 and B3 groups at 1 day and 1 week after surgery (all P<0.05), and group B was significantly lower than group A.There was no significant difference between 1 month and 3 months after surgery (P>0.05).ECD was reduced in both groups.There was no statistically significant difference in ECD at different time of operation between A1 and B1 groups (all P>0.05), while there was statistically significant difference in ECD at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after operation in A2 and B2, A3 and B3 groups (all P<0.05). Group B was significantly better than group A. There was no significant difference in coefficient of variation and HEX between the two groups at different time after surgery (P>0.05). Conclusion: Femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification demonstrates benefits in preserving corneal endothelial cells, reducing early postoperative corneal edema, and minimizing corneal injury in type 2 diabetes patients with cataracts of high nuclear hardness.

Intraoperative challenges and outcomes of pediatric cataract surgery following glaucoma filtering surgery.

PURPOSE: To analyze the intraoperative challenges of cataract surgery in children, following glaucoma filtering surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective study to analyze intra-op challenges and outcomes of pediatric cataract surgery in post-glaucoma filtration surgery eyes, between January 2007 and December 2019. RESULTS: We included 20 eyes of 16 children. The most common glaucoma surgery performed was trabeculectomy and trabeculotomy (14 eyes). The median age at the time of cataract surgery was 74.5 months. The most common cataract surgery performed was lens aspiration with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (LA + PCIOL) (9/20). The most common intraoperative challenge faced was difficulty in capsulorrhexis (ten eyes), followed by extension of primary posterior capsulotomy (six eyes). At the final follow up eight eyes had improvement in visual acuity, five eyes had stable visual acuity and five eyes had a drop in visual acuity. In 12/20 eyes IOL was implanted, nine eyes in-the-bag and three eyes had in ciliary sulcus. None of the IOLs in the bag had decentration of IOL. The median postoperative IOP (p = 0.12) and median number of postoperative AGM (p = 0.13) at 2 years remained stable compared to the preoperative values. The IOP remained well controlled in 4 eyes without anti-glaucoma medications and in 14 eyes with anti-glaucoma medications and none needed additional surgery for IOP control. Two eyes developed retinal detachment postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery in pediatric eyes with prior glaucoma surgeries, have challenges with capsulorrhexis and IOL stability. The visual outcomes were reasonably good so was the IOP control.

Poppers maculopathy missed in a patient with cataract highlights the importance of preoperative optical coherence tomography.

Poppers maculopathy is a complication of alkyl nitrate (poppers) inhalation. It presents with non-specific symptoms and variable signs, which can make it difficult to diagnose. We present a case of coexisting cataract and poppers maculopathy in a patient. He had vague visual symptoms that were attributed entirely to his cataract and he went on to have cataract surgery. Suboptimal postoperative visual acuity and normal clinical examination triggered further investigation with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), after which poppers maculopathy was diagnosed. We highlight the importance of performing OCT in the preoperative assessment of a cataract patient, especially where the cataract is mild and may not fully account for symptoms. The patient showed complete visual recovery on drug cessation despite ongoing maculopathy on OCT scans.

Intraoperative quantitative crystalline lens nuclear opacities analysis based on crystalline lenSx platform.

PURPOSE: The main objective is to quantify the lens nuclear opacity using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to evaluate its association with Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS-III) system, lens thickness (LT), and surgical parameters. The secondary objective is to assess the diagnostic model performance for hard nuclear cataract. METHODS: This study included 70 eyes of 57 adults with cataract, with 49 (70%) and 21 (30%) in training and validation cohort, respectively. Correlations of the average nuclear density (AND) /maximum nuclear density (MND) with LOCS-III scores, LT, and surgical parameters were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration curves were performed for the diagnostic of hard nuclear cataract. RESULTS: The pre-operative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), mean axial length (AL), and LT were 1.20 ± 0.47 log MAR, 15.50 ± 2.87 mmHg, 27.34 ± 3.77 mm and 4.32 ± 0.45 mm, respectively. The average nuclear opalescence (NO) and nuclear colour (NC) scores were 3.61 ± 0.94 and 3.50 ± 0.91 (ranging from 1.00 to 6.90), respectively. The average AND and MND were 137.94 ± 17.01 and 230.01 ± 8.91, respectively. NC and NO scores both significantly correlated with the AND (rNC = 0.733, p = 0.000; rNO = 0.755, p = 0.000) and MND (rNC = 0.643, p = 0.000; rNO = 0.634, p = 0.000). In the training cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.769 (P < 0.001, 95%CI 0.620-0.919), which had a good degree of differentiation (Fig. 2a). The calibration curve showed good agreement between predicted and actual probability. CONCLUSION: The nuclear density measurement on SD-OCT images can serve as an objective and reliable indicator for quantifying nuclear density.

[Evaluation of the accuracy of modern intraocular lens calculation formulas when optical biometry is not possible]. / Otsenka tochnosti sovremennykh formul rascheta intraokulyarnykh linz pri nevozmozhnosti vypolneniya opticheskoi biometrii.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the accuracy of modern intraocular lens (IOL) calculation formulas using axial length (AL) data obtained by ultrasound biometry (UBM) compared to the third-generation SRK/T calculator. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 230 patients (267 eyes) with severe lens opacities that prevented optical biometry, who underwent phacoemulsification (PE) with IOL implantation. IOL power calculation according to the SRK/T formula was based on AL and anterior chamber depth obtained by UBM (Tomey Biometer Al-100) and keratometry on the Topcon KR 8800 autorefractometer. To adapt AL for new generation calculators - Barrett Universal II (BUII), Hill RBF ver. 3.0 (RBF), Kane and Ladas Super Formula (LSF) - the retinal thickness (0.20 mm) was added to the axial length determined by UBM, and then the optical power of the artificial lens was calculated. The mean error and its modulus value were used as criteria for the accuracy of IOL calculation. RESULTS: A significant difference (p=0.008) in the mean IOL calculation error was found between the formulas. Pairwise analysis revealed differences between SRK/T (-0.32±0.58 D) and other formulas - BUII (-0.16±0.52 D; p=0.014), RBF (-0.17±0.51 D; p=0.024), Kane (-0.17±0.52 D; p=0.029), but not with the LSF calculator (-0.19±0.53 D; p=0.071). No significant differences between the formulas were found in terms of mean error modulus (p=0.238). New generation calculators showed a more frequent success in hitting target refraction (within ±1.00 D in more than 95% of cases) than the SRK/T formula (86%). CONCLUSION: The proposed method of adding 0.20 mm to the AL determined by UBM allows using this parameter in modern IOL calculation formulas and improving the refractive results of PE, especially in eyes with non-standard anterior segment structure.

[Optimization of phacoemulsification technique for Morgagnian cataract]. / Optimizatsiya tekhnologii fakoemul'sifikatsii morganievoi katarakty.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a new optimized phacoemulsification technique for Morgagnian cataract taking into account the anatomical and topographic parameters of the lens nucleus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A working classification of Morgagnian cataract was developed based on the size of the nucleus: if the edge of the nucleus is visualized at the upper edge of the pupil or between the upper edge and the middle of the pupil, it was classified as an initial stage of Morgagnian cataract with a large nucleus; if the upper edge of the nucleus is visualized in the middle of the pupil and below, it was classified as an advanced stage of Morgagnian cataract with a small nucleus. The first group included six patients who underwent surgery using the scaffold technique with removal of the whole small nucleus into the anterior chamber. The second group included 11 patients who underwent surgery using the scaffold technique with removal of the last fragment of the nucleus into the anterior chamber. RESULTS: The use of the scaffold technique with removal of the nucleus into the anterior chamber helped reduce the number of intraoperative complications to 16.7% in the first group, compared to 27.3% in the second group, and the percentage of endothelial cell loss to 10.1% in the first group, compared to 10.7% in the second group. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomical and topographic features of the lens and the anterior segment of the eye in Morgagnian cataract with a small nucleus allow for preliminary implantation of an intraocular lens into the capsular bag to protect the posterior capsule during phacoemulsification of the nucleus with minimal mechanical, hydrodynamic and acoustic damage to the surrounding structures of the eye.

[Outcomes of extended depth of focus intraocular lenses implantation]. / Rezul'tat implantatsii intraokulyarnykh linz s rasshirennoi glubinoi fokusa.

Extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) are the latest IOL designs. In recent years, several models of EDOF IOLs have become available in Russia, two of which (Tecnis Symfony and Acrysof IQ Vivity) are implanted in our clinic. Comparative studies devoted to the results of implantation of the new EDOF IOLs are rare in the available literature. PURPOSE: This article compares the outcomes of implantation of two EDOF IOLs in patients with presbyopia and/or cataract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective study included 60 patients (81 eyes) after implantation of EDOF IOL Tecnis Symfony (32 patients, 45 eyes; group 1) or EDOF IOL AcrySof IQ Vivity (28 patients, 36 eyes; group 2). The mean follow-up period was 3.9±1.3 months. RESULTS: All groups showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA), intermediate visual acuity (UCIVA), and distance visual acuity (UCDVA) at the maximum follow-up time compared to preoperative values. In group 1, the best corrected near visual acuity (BCNVA) increased from 0.61±0.10 to 0.82±0.16 at the maximum follow-up time, and in group 2 - from 0.58±0.08 to 0.67±0.12 (p>0.05). Both groups showed a significant increase in best corrected intermediate and distance visual acuity (BCIVA and BCDVA) at the maximum follow-up time. The increase in the indicator compared to the preoperative period was not significant in both groups (p>0.05). The frequency of side optical phenomena was low in both groups. No significant differences were found between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study presents a comparative analysis of the results of implantation of two different EDOF IOLs. Both lenses were comparable in most of the studied parameters, including providing good distance and intermediate vision, functional near vision, as well as a low frequency of side optical phenomena. In all cases the patients were satisfied with the results of the surgical intervention.

KRAS depletion suppresses ferroptosis and affects Hippo pathway in cataract.

Cataract, a painless and progressive disorder is manifested as the opacification of the lens that represents the most significant cause of blindness worldwide. The objective of this study is to unveil the function of Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) and potential action mechanisms against cataract. The ferroptosis-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pivot genes were extracted through the comprehensive bioinformatics methods. Erastin was applied for inducing ferroptosis in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-treated SRA01/04 cells, and validated by detecting content of intracellular iron, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, the effects of KRAS deficiency on ferroptosis were determined by functional assays. The proteins expression related to ferroptosis and Hippo pathway were determined by Western blotting. A total of 73 ferroptosis-related DEGs were discovered, and 6 critical core genes were confirmed upregulation in cataract cell model. The H2O2-treated SRA01/04 cells exhibited decrease of cell viability and proliferation, iron accumulation, MDA increase, GSH consumption, rise of COX2 and decline of GPX4, with further aggravated under erastin treatment, while the phenomena were improved by KRAS knockdown. Additionally, KRAS deficiency was involved in the Hippo signalling pathway activation. Downregulation of KRAS might restrain ferroptosis and affect Hippo pathway in cataract.

Prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment in Kogi state, Nigeria-Findings from a Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness survey.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment among adults in Kogi, Nigeria. METHODS: A Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) protocol was used with additional tools measuring disability and household wealth to measure the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment (VI) and associations with sex, disability, wealth, cataract surgical coverage and its effectiveness. RESULTS: Age- and sex-adjusted all-cause prevalence of bilateral blindness was 3.6% (95%CI 3.0-4.2%), prevalence of blindness among people living with additional, non-visual disabilities was 38.3% (95% CI 29.0-48.6%) compared to 1.6% (95%CI 1.2-2.1%; [Formula: see text] = 771.9, p<0.001) among people without additional disabilities. Cataract was the principal cause of bilateral blindness (55.3%). Cataract surgical coverage (CSC) at visual acuity (VA) 3/60 was 48.0%, higher among men than women (53.7% vs 40.3%); 12.0% among people with non-visual disabilities; 66.9% among people without non-visual disabilities, being higher among people in the wealthiest two quintiles (41.1%) compared to the lowest three (24.3%). Effective Cataract Surgical Coverage at Visual Acuity 6/60 was 31.0%, higher among males (34.9%) than females (25.5%), low among people with additional, non-visual disabilities (1.9%) compared to people with no additional disabilities (46.2%). Effective CDC was higher among people in the wealthiest two quintiles (411%) compared to the poorest three (24.3%). Good surgical outcome (VA>6/18) was seen in 61 eyes (52.6%) increasing to 71 (61.2%) eyes with best correction. Cost was identified as the main barrier to surgery. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest there exists inequalities in eye care with women, poorer people and people with disabilities having a lower Cataract Surgical Coverage, thereby, underscoring the importance of eye care programs to address these inequalities.

The Functional Significance of High Cysteine Content in Eye Lens γ-Crystallins.

Cataract disease is strongly associated with progressively accumulating oxidative damage to the extremely long-lived crystallin proteins of the lens. Cysteine oxidation affects crystallin folding, interactions, and light-scattering aggregation especially strongly due to the formation of disulfide bridges. Minimizing crystallin aggregation is crucial for lifelong lens transparency, so one might expect the ubiquitous lens crystallin superfamilies (α and ßγ) to contain little cysteine. Yet, the Cys content of γ-crystallins is well above the average for human proteins. We review literature relevant to this longstanding puzzle and take advantage of expanding genomic databases and improved machine learning tools for protein structure prediction to investigate it further. We observe remarkably low Cys conservation in the ßγ-crystallin superfamily; however, in γ-crystallin, the spatial positioning of Cys residues is clearly fine-tuned by evolution. We propose that the requirements of long-term lens transparency and high lens optical power impose competing evolutionary pressures on lens ßγ-crystallins, leading to distinct adaptations: high Cys content in γ-crystallins but low in ßB-crystallins. Aquatic species need more powerful lenses than terrestrial ones, which explains the high methionine content of many fish γ- (and even ß-) crystallins. Finally, we discuss synergies between sulfur-containing and aromatic residues in crystallins and suggest future experimental directions.

Metabonomics analysis of aqueous humor samples from cataract patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Cataract (CAT) has a very high incidence rate among the middle-aged and elderly, with most patients complicated by branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), a key cause of blindness. In this study, through metabolomic analysis of aqueous humor samples from CAT patients with BRVO, a total of 319 different metabolites were found, most of which belonged to the categories of carboxylic acids and derivatives, fatty acyls, and organooxygen compounds. The most typical metabolites were 3-methylhistidine and biliverdin, which were up-regulated, as well as the down-regulated beta-glycerophosphoric acid. Tricosanoic acid showed the most significant correlation with CAT+BRVO. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, the most commonly related keywords for differentially expressed metabolites were biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and synaptic vesicle cycle. These results can not only help to further understand the pathogenesis of CAT complicated by BRVO in clinical practice, but also provide some new therapeutic research directions.

Transient anterior subcapsular vacuolar lens opacities after Tanito microhook trabeculotomy: report of six cases.

OBJECTIVE: To present six cases exhibiting transient anterior subcapsular vacuolar lens opacities following early postoperative Tanito microhook trabeculotomy (TMH) performed by the same surgeon. METHODS: Six patients who underwent lens-sparing TMH at Meizankai Shimizu Eye Clinic from November 2021 to May 2023, and developed anterior subcapsular vacuolar lens opacities postoperatively were reviewed. Detailed records of surgeries, follow-up findings were collected and reported. RESULTS: In all six cases, anterior vacuolar subcapsular lens opacities were observed on the day after surgery, gradually decreasing without affecting visual acuity or contrast sensitivity. In all cases, without any specific interventions, the opacities disappeared by 21 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Anterior subcapsular cataracts, characterized by a vacuolar appearance and transient existence, should be recognized as an early complication of ab interno glaucoma surgery, possibly linked to use of distributed ophthalmic viscosurgical devices and excessive anterior chamber irrigation leading to traumatic cataracts on the lens surface.

Breaking Barriers: Nanomedicine-Based Drug Delivery for Cataract Treatment.

Cataract is a leading cause of blindness globally, and its surgical treatment poses a significant burden on global healthcare. Pharmacologic therapies, including antioxidants and protein aggregation reversal agents, have attracted great attention in the treatment of cataracts in recent years. Due to the anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye, the effectiveness of traditional eye drops for delivering drugs topically to the lens is hindered. The advancements in nanomedicine present novel and promising strategies for addressing challenges in drug delivery to the lens, including the development of nanoparticle formulations that can improve drug penetration into the anterior segment and enable sustained release of medications. This review introduces various cutting-edge drug delivery systems for cataract treatment, highlighting their physicochemical properties and surface engineering for optimal design, thus providing impetus for further innovative research and potential clinical applications of anti-cataract drugs.

Myopia and Nutrient Associations with Age-Related Eye Diseases in Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional KNHANES Study.

This study assessed the prevalence of myopia, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration among Koreans over 40, utilizing data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII, 2018). We analyzed 204,973 adults (44% men, 56% women; mean age 58.70 ± 10.75 years), exploring the association between myopia and these eye diseases through multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for confounders and calculating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results showed a myopia prevalence of 44.6%, cataracts at 19.4%, macular degeneration at 16.2%, and glaucoma at 2.3%, with significant differences across ages and genders. A potential link was found between myopia and an increased risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, but not with glaucoma. Additionally, a higher dietary intake of carbohydrates, polyunsaturated and n-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals correlated with lower risks of these diseases, underscoring the importance of the diet in managing and preventing age-related eye conditions. These findings highlight the need for dietary considerations in public health strategies and confirm myopia as a significant risk factor for specific eye diseases in the aging Korean population.