April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Age-Related Cataract: The Singapore Malay Eye Study
T. Y. Wong; W. T. Tay; P. Mitchell; A. G. Tan; P. C. Fong; N. Sangeetha; M. Sandar; T. Aung; J. J. Wang; S. M. Saw
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • T. Y. Wong
    Singapore Eye Research Institute,
    National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
    Center for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • W. T. Tay
    Singapore Eye Research Institute,
    National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • P. Mitchell
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • A. G. Tan
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • P. C. Fong
    Singapore Eye Research Institute,
    National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • N. Sangeetha
    Singapore Eye Research Institute,
    National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • M. Sandar
    Singapore Eye Research Institute,
    National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • T. Aung
    Singapore Eye Research Institute,
    National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • J. J. Wang
    Center for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • S. M. Saw
    Singapore Eye Research Institute,
    Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine,
    National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  T.Y. Wong, None; W.T. Tay, None; P. Mitchell, None; A.G. Tan, None; P.C. Fong, None; N. Sangeetha, None; M. Sandar, None; T. Aung, None; J.J. Wang, None; S.M. Saw, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  Supported by the National Medical Research Council Grants No 0796/2003 and Biomedical Research Council Grant No 501/1/25-5
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 505. doi:
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      T. Y. Wong, W. T. Tay, P. Mitchell, A. G. Tan, P. C. Fong, N. Sangeetha, M. Sandar, T. Aung, J. J. Wang, S. M. Saw; Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Age-Related Cataract: The Singapore Malay Eye Study. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):505.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To describe the prevalence of and risk factors for age-related cataract in the older Malay population in Singapore

Methods: : A population-based cross-sectional study of 3,280 (78.7% response) Singaporean Malay adults aged 40 to 80 years. Digital slit-lamp and retroillumination lens photographs were taken from both eyes and graded for age-related nuclear, cortical and posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract following the Wisconsin grading system. Information on medical and lifestyle factors was collected via a questionnaire and a standardized clinical eye examination was performed.

Results: : 3030 (92.4%) of participants had gradable lens photographs. The overall age-adjusted prevalence of any cataract or cataract surgery was 29.8% (95% CI 28.1-31.6), increasing from from 6.3%, 28.3%, 69.6%, 92.8% in those 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years and 70-80 years, respectively (p trend<0.001). Age-adjusted prevalence rates for nuclear, cortical and PSC cataract were 10.5% (95% CI 9.6-11.5), 19.5% (95% CI 18.1-21.0) and 9.0% (95% CI 8.1-10.1), respectively. In multivariate adjusted analyses, independent risk factors for nuclear cataract included older age, female gender, current cigarette smoking, higher systolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol; for cortical and PSC cataract, independent risk factors were older age, female gender, greater body mass index and higher HbA1c.

Conclusions: : One in three older Malay adults had cataract in Singapore. Cortical cataract was the most common subtype. Age-related cataract was associated with modifiable cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors.

Keywords: cataract • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • 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.
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