title: The effect of chronic smoking on lens density in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on lens density by Pentacam HR lens densitometry in young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty chronic smokers who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day for at least 2 years and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included in this prospective cross-sectional, comparative study. Presence of an ocular or systemic disease that might affect lens were determined as exclusion criteria. All individuals underwent complete ocular examination. Lens densitometry (LD) measurements were performed with Pentacam HR (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany), dividing the lens into 3 areas: anterior area (anterior subcapsular and anterior cortical), nuclear area, and posterior area (posterior subcapsular and posterior cortical). Three-dimensional scan modes were used for measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ages of group 1 and 2 were 25.85 ± 4.32 and 25.60 ± 5.14 years, respectively. The mean LD values in the 3 areas were higher in group 1 than group 2. However, only the mean LD value at the anterior area of group 1 was found to be statistically significantly higher (p = 0.047). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean LD measurements at the nuclear and posterior areas between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that the mean LD value of the anterior area was significantly higher in group 1, suggesting that chronic smoking may contribute to anterior cortical and subcapsular cataract development in young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Uskudar - Istanbul.
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayata
authors.forename: Yakup
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002452:Cell Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult