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Hypertension and lens opacities from the Beaver Dam Eye Study
B E Klein1, R Klein, S C Jensen
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, USA.
Purpose:
To examine the relationship between hypertension and lens opacities, and the use of antihypertensive agents.
Methods:
A total of 4,926 adults, 43 to 84 years of age, living in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, at the time of a private census, were invited to participate in a study that included a medical interview and an examination that included ocular photography. All study procedures and photographic grading were done according to standard protocols.
Results:
According to analysis with the Liang-Zeger multiple logistic regression model, people with hypertension were more likely to have posterior subcapsular opacities than people without hypertension (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.05, 1.84). Specific medications for hypertension did not meaningfully affect the risk. Hypertension was associated with increased risk in both those with and without diabetes.
Conclusions:
Hypertension is associated with increased risk of posterior subcapsular opacities. The pathophysiologic mechanisms that may explain the relationship are unknown. Incidence data will give a better indication of temporal relationship between hypertension, medications to lower blood pressure, and lens opacities.