Iris color and cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between eye color and cataract.


METHODS
A population-based cross-sectional study (N = 3654) was conducted near Sydney, Australia. Lens photographs were graded for cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular cataract. Iris color was assessed at slit-lamp examination by comparison with four photographic standards.


RESULTS
Eyes with dark brown irises were more likely to have nuclear (adjusted odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 2.28) or posterior subcapsular cataract (adjusted odds ratio, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.57 to 3.98) than eyes with lighter-colored irises.


CONCLUSIONS
People with dark brown eyes are at increased risk of cataract and should be encouraged to protect their eyes from direct exposure to sunlight.
Cumming
R G
RG
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. bobc@pub.health.usyd.edu.au
Mitchell
P
P
Lim
R
R
D002386:Cataract / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007904:Lens Cortex, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010781:Photography; D012307:Risk Factors