Is age-related maculopathy associated with cataracts?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between three types of cataract or cataract surgery and age-related maculopathy.


METHODS
Population-based prevalence study.


METHODS
A total of 4926 people participating in The Beaver Dam Eye Study from 1988 through 1990.


METHODS
Grading of photographs for nuclear sclerosis, cortical cataract, and posterior subcapsular cataract and signs of age-related maculopathy was performed using standardized protocols.


RESULTS
After adjusting for other risk factors, nuclear sclerosis was associated with increased odds of early age-related maculopathy (odds ratio [OR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28 to 3.01) but not of late age-related maculopathy (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.52 to 3.63). Neither cortical nor posterior subcapsular cataracts were related to age-related maculopathy. There were increased odds of early age-related maculopathy in eyes that had undergone cataract surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a possible commonly shared pathogenesis between nuclear sclerotic cataract and age-related maculopathy.
Klein
R
R
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Klein
B E
BE
Wang
Q
Q
Moss
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors