A study to explore the risk factors for the early onset of cataract in India

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of cataract in young patients.

The study was undertaken at Iladevi Cataract and IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

In a clinic-based observational study, 340 consecutive patients in the age group of 30-45 years presenting with nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular (PSC), mixed, and posterior polar cataract were prospectively studied. A detailed history regarding sunlight exposure, atopy, diabetes, steroid intake, myopia, glaucoma, and uveitis was elicited.

The mean age of the patients was 40.2+/-4.6 years; there were 202 men. The major risk factors were atopy (25.6%), idiopathic (19.1%), high myopia (12.4%), atopy with steroid intake (10.9%), steroid usage (7.4%), sunlight exposure (3.8%), and diabetes mellitus (3.2%). PSC was observed in 53.5% eyes. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that atopy (P=0.016), steroid usage (P=0.100), and diabetes mellitus (P=0.076) documented higher odds for PSC. High myopia (P<0.001) and sunlight exposure (P=0.003) documented higher odds for nuclear cataract.

Atopy was found to be the most common risk factor associated with the development of cataract in young individuals. PSC was the predominant type of cataract prevalent in young patients.