title: Risk factors for cortical, nuclear, posterior subcapsular, and mixed lens opacities: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify sociodemographic and biological risk factors associated with having cortical, nuclear, posterior subcapsular (PSC), and mixed lens opacities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 5945 Latinos aged ≥ 40 years from 6 census tracts in Los Angeles, California.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants underwent an interview and detailed eye examination, including best-corrected visual acuity and slit-lamp assessment of lens opacities using the Lens Opacities Classification System II. Univariate and stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors associated with each type of lens opacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Odds ratios for sociodemographic and biological risk factors associated with cortical only, nuclear only, PSC only, and mixed lens opacities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 5945 participants with gradable lenses, 468 had cortical only lens opacities, 217 had nuclear only lens opacities, 27 had PSC only opacities, and 364 had mixed lens opacities. Older age, higher hemoglobin A(1c), and history of diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for cortical only lens opacities. Older age, smoking, and myopic refractive error were independent risk factors for nuclear only lens opacities. Higher systolic blood pressure and history of diabetes were independent risk factors for PSC lens opacities. Older age, myopic refractive error, history of diabetes, higher systolic blood pressure, female gender, and presence of large drusen were independent risk factors for mixed lens opacities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors identified in this study provide insight into the mechanisms related to the development of lens opacification. Improved glycemic control, smoking cessation and prevention, and blood pressure control may help to reduce the risk of having lens opacities and their associated vision loss.
authors.affiliation: Doheny Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
authors.forename: Grace M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: Stanley P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Azen
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology; D007904:Lens Cortex, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D044382:Population Groups; D057852:Posterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology