Myopia and age-related cataract: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if myopia is a risk factor for age-related cataract.


METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis.


METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed and Embase from their inception to March 2013 for population-based studies with data on myopia and age-related cataract, including nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular (PSC) cataract. Separate meta-analyses for case-control/cross-sectional studies and cohort studies were conducted using random-effects models, with results reported as adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and relative risks (RRs), respectively.


RESULTS
A total of 38 007 subjects aged 30-97 years from 12 population-based studies were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of the 7 cross-sectional studies and 1 case-control study confirmed that myopia was associated with increasingly prevalent nuclear (pooled OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.94-4.06) and PSC cataract (pooled OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.49-2.49) but not with cortical cataract (pooled OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.90-1.30). Meta-analysis from 3 or 4 cohort studies showed nonsignificant associations of myopia with incident nuclear (pooled RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.71-2.21), cortical (pooled RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.67-2.19), and PSC cataract (pooled RR 1.26, 95% CI 0.92-1.74).


CONCLUSIONS
The associations of myopia with prevalent nuclear and PSC cataract are confirmed in meta-analysis of 8 study findings. The association of myopia with incidence of age-related cataract could not be confirmed in meta-analysis of 4 study findings.
Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Chen-Wei
CW
Pan
Ching-Yu
CY
Cheng
Seang-Mei
SM
Saw
Jie Jin
JJ
Wang
Tien Y
TY
Wong
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors