THE RELATION OF SOCIOECONOMIC-FACTORS TO AGE-RELATED CATARACT, MACULOPATHY, AND IMPAIRED VISION - THE BEAVER DAM EYE STUDY

Purpose: To investigate the relations between socioeconomic factors an d the prevalence of age-related cataract, maculopathy, and visual impa irment. Methods: A population-based sample of 4926 people 43 to 86 yea rs of age was examined from 1988 to 1990. Education, income, employmen t status, marital status, nuclear sclerosis, cortical, and posterior s ubcapsular cataract, age-related maculopathy, and impaired vision were all ascertained using standard protocols. Results: While controlling for age, sex, diabetes status, multivitamin use, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking, less education was significantly associated wit h nuclear and cortical cataract, and lower income was significantly as sociated with cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract and impaired vision. There was a ''U-shaped'' relation between income and cataract surgery. Neither income nor education was related to age-related macu lopathy. There was no relation of marital status to cataract status or age-related maculopathy. Conclusion: These data suggest that educatio n and income are associated with cataract, cataract surgery, and impai red vision. These relations were not explained by other risk factors m easured in the study.