Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of lens opacities (posterior subcapsular, nuclear, cortical, and mixed opacities) in a population-based sample of Latinos, aged 40 years and older. Methods: A population-based sample of Latinos underwent a complete eye examination by a trained ophthalmologist including grading of the lens at the slit lamp using the Lens Opacities Classification System II (LOCS II). Posterior subcapsular (PSC), nuclear, and cortical opacities were defined by a grade > 2 in either eye. Mixed opacities were defined as having more than one type of opacity in either eye. All lens changes were defined as- presence in at least 1 eye of- a) any gradable PSC, nuclear, or cortical lens opacity, or b) cataract that was too advanced to grade, or c) history of previous cataract surgery. Frequency distributions were used to determine the gender and age-specific prevalence rates for each Opacity type (all lens changes, mixed, nuclear, cortical, and PSC). Chi-square analyses were used to determine the association of gender and age-specific groups (decades) and Opacity type. Results:Of 5,714 participants who were examined, a majority was female (58%), and the mean age was 54 years. The prevalence of all lens changes was 22%, mixed opacities was 7%, cortical opacities was 7%, nuclear opacities was 3%, and PSC opacities was 2%. Prevalence of all opacity types increased with age. Cortical, PSC and all lens changes were more prevalent in the age group 60 to 69 (45%, 39% and 38%, respectively), compared to the age group 40 to 49 (11%, 20%, and 10% respectively). Nuclear and mixed opacities were more prevalent in the age group 70 to 79 (41%) compared to the age group 40 to 49 (4% and 2%, respectively), (p<0.0001). No gender related differences were seen for all lens changes, nuclear, cortical, PSC and mixed opacities (p=0.29). Conclusions: Our data suggest that Latinos have prevalence rates for all lens opacities that are similar to Whites but lower than those seen in Blacks. Cortical opacities are the most common single type of lens opacities among Latinos. In addition, while there was no gender related-association, all types of lens opacities were associated with older-age similar to that reported previously.
Keywords: cataract • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: pre