Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Binocular Dynamic Visual Acuity in Eyeglass-Corrected Myopic Patients
Published on: March 29, 2022
Myopia and age-related cataract: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Chen-Wei Pan1, Ching-Yu Cheng, Seang-Mei Saw
1Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Purpose:
To examine if myopia is a risk factor for age-related cataract.
Design:
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.
Related Concept Videos
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Glaucoma: Overview
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Focusing of Light in the Eye
