April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
C-Reactive Protein and Age-Related Cataract: The Singapore Malay Eye Study
P. Boey; W. Tay; E. Tai; P. Mitchell; J. Wang; S. Saw; T. Aung; T. Wong
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • P. Boey
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
  • W. Tay
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
  • E. Tai
    Department of Endocrinology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  • P. Mitchell
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • J. Wang
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • S. Saw
    Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • T. Aung
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
  • T. Wong
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  P. Boey, None; W. Tay, None; E. Tai, None; P. Mitchell, None; J. Wang, None; S. Saw, None; T. Aung, None; T. Wong, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  National Medical Research Council Grants No 0796/2003, 0863/2004 and CSI/0002/2005, and Biomedical Research Council Grant No 501/1/25-5
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 500. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      C-Reactive Protein and Age-Related Cataract: The Singapore Malay Eye Study
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      P. Boey, W. Tay, E. Tai, P. Mitchell, J. Wang, S. Saw, T. Aung, T. Wong; C-Reactive Protein and Age-Related Cataract: The Singapore Malay Eye Study. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):500.

      Download citation file:

      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : To describe the associations between C-reactive protein (CRP), a systemic marker of inflammation, and age-related cataract in an Asian population.

Methods: : A population-based, cross-sectional study of 3,280 (78.7% response) Malay persons aged 40-80 years residing in Singapore was conducted in 2004-6. A digital slit-lamp camera (Topcon model DC-1; Topcon, Japan with FD-21 flash attachment) and a Scheimpflug retroillumination camera (Nidek EAS-1000, Nidek, Japan) were used to photograph the lens through dilated pupils for assessment of nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract using the Wisconsin cataract grading system. Non-fasting venous blood samples were taken from all participants and assessed for serum CRP levels.

Results: : CRP data were available for 2881 adults and of these, 1139 (39.5%) had cataract: 549 (19.1%), 836 (29.0%) and 400 (13.9%) had nuclear, cortical and PSC cataract, respectively. After adjusting for age and gender, CRP level was not significantly associated with the prevalence of any cataract (odds ratio [OR]: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82-1.37, 4th versus 1st quartile of CRP levels), nuclear (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.56-1.07), cortical (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.79-1.31), or posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract (OR: 1.07, 95% CI 0.79-1.46). These associations did not change in analyses that also adjusted for diabetes, smoking, and other cataract risk factors. In sub-group analyses, among persons aged 60-69 years, higher CRP levels were associated with an increased risk of PSC cataract (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.06-3.28). However, in those aged 70-80 years, higher CRP levels were associated with a decreased risk of PSC cataract (OR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.92).

Conclusions: : No consistent association between C-reactive protein and age-related cataract were found in this Asian population. These data do not support systemic inflammation as a major risk factor for age-related cataract.

Keywords: cataract • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment 
© 2009, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept