title: Four-year incidence and progression of lens opacities: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the 4-year incidence and progression of lens opacities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 4658 adult Latinos from Los Angeles County were examined at baseline and 4-year follow-up. Examination included assessment of lens opacities using the Lens Opacities Classification System II (LOCS II). Incidences of cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular opacities (with LOCS II scores >or=2) were defined as opacity development in persons without that opacity at baseline. Single and mixed opacities were defined in persons without any opacity at baseline. Incidence of all lens changes included development of at least 1 opacity or cataract surgery among those without any opacity at baseline. Four-year progressions were defined as increase of >or=2 in LOCS II score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 4-year incidence of all lens opacities was 14.2%. Four-year incidence of cataract surgery was 1.48%. The incidences were 4.1% for cortical-only, 5.8% for nuclear-only, 0.5% for PSC-only, and 2.5% for mixed. The incidences for any opacities were 7.5% for cortical, 10.2% for nuclear, and 2.5% for PSC. Incidence increased with age (P < .0001 for all). The progressions were 8.5% for cortical, 3.7% for nuclear, and 2.9% for PSC opacities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our Latino population had a higher incidence of nuclear than cortical opacities, but a greater progression of cortical than nuclear opacities. Incidence and progression of PSC was low. Additional understanding of the natural history and progression of various lens opacities will give us a better understanding of the pathogenesis and management of lens opacities.
authors.affiliation: Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. rvarma@usc.edu
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: Grace M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Athena W P
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Foong
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: Stanley P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Azen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007904:Lens Cortex, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment