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Ultraviolet light exposure and lens opacities: the Beaver Dam Eye Study
K J Cruickshanks1, B E Klein, R Klein
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
American Journal of Public Health
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Men with higher ultraviolet-B (UVB) light exposure showed increased cortical opacities. However, UVB exposure was not linked to other cataract types or opacities in women, suggesting varied causes for lens opacities.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Cataract is a leading cause of vision loss.
- Sunlight exposure, particularly ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation, is a suspected risk factor for cataract development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sunlight and UVB exposure and the prevalence of lens opacities.
- To examine potential gender differences in the relationship between UVB exposure and cataract.
Main Methods:
- The Beaver Dam Eye Study examined 43- to 84-year-old residents.
- Standardized photographic assessments evaluated lens opacities.
- Questionnaires collected medical history and light exposure data.
Main Results:
- Men with higher average annual ambient UVB light exposure had 1.36 times greater odds of severe cortical opacities.
- UVB exposure was not associated with nuclear sclerosis or posterior subcapsular opacities in men.
- No significant associations between UVB exposure and lens opacities were found in women.
Conclusions:
- UVB light exposure may contribute to the severity of cortical opacities in men.
- The absence of association in women, who have a higher prevalence of cortical opacities, indicates other factors are crucial in lens opacity development.