Hypertension and lens opacities from the Beaver Dam Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between hypertension and lens opacities, and the use of antihypertensive agents.


METHODS
A total of 4,926 adults, 43 to 84 years of age, living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, at the time of a private census, were invited to participate in a study that included a medical interview and an examination that included ocular photography. All study procedures and photographic grading were done according to standard protocols.


RESULTS
According to analysis with the Liang-Zeger multiple logistic regression model, people with hypertension were more likely to have posterior subcapsular opacities than people without hypertension (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.05, 1.84). Specific medications for hypertension did not meaningfully affect the risk. Hypertension was associated with increased risk in both those with and without diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension is associated with increased risk of posterior subcapsular opacities. The pathophysiologic mechanisms that may explain the relationship are unknown. Incidence data will give a better indication of temporal relationship between hypertension, medications to lower blood pressure, and lens opacities.
Klein
B E
BE
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, USA.
Klein
R
R
Jensen
S C
SC
Linton
K L
KL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents