Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Molecular Mechanisms in PCO and Fibrosis Following Cataract Surgery
Published on: December 1, 2023
Risk Factors for Cataracts Treated Surgically in Postmenopausal Women
Sarah Floud1, Hannah Kuper2, Gillian K Reeves1
1Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Purpose:
To identify risk factors for cataracts treated surgically in postmenopausal women.
Design:
Population-based, prospective cohort study.
Participants:
A total of 1 312 051 postmenopausal women in the UK Million Women Study, aged 56 years on average (standard deviation [SD], 4.8), without previous cataract surgery, hospital admission with cataracts, or cancer at baseline, were followed for cataracts treated surgically.
Methods:
Cox regression was used to calculate adjusted relative risks (RRs) for cataract surgery by lifestyle factors, treatment for diabetes, reproductive history, and use of hormonal therapies.
Main Outcome Measures:
Cataract surgery identified by linkage to central National Health Service (NHS) records for inpatient and day-patient admissions (Hospital Episode Statistics for England and Scottish Morbidity Records in Scotland).
Results:
Overall, 89 343 women underwent cataract surgery during an average of 11 (SD, 3) years of follow-up. Women with diabetes were at greatest risk (diabetes vs. no diabetes RR, 2.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.82-2.97). Other factors associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery were current smoking (current smokers of ≥15 cigarettes/day vs. never smokers RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.23-1.30) and obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 vs. <25 kg/m(2); RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10-1.14).
Conclusions:
Diabetes, smoking, and obesity were risk factors for cataract surgery. Alcohol use, physical activity, reproductive history, and use of hormonal therapies had little, if any, association with cataract surgery risk.
