A hospital-based case-control study of senile cataract was conducted i
n Japan from 1988 to 1990. Two hundred and twelve patients with senile
cataract and 212 control subjects with the same age-sex distribution
were interviewed and given an ophthalmological examination. Both group
s were randomly selected outpatients from 9 hospitals. Associations be
tween senile cataract and four groups of variables, factors regarded a
s risks, life style habits, general aging indices or other factors wer
e analyzed, and the data was subjected to statistical analysis. An inc
reased risk of cataract was found in males who were presently spending
7 hours or more outside daily (Odds ratio=5.07) and in females with 4
or fewer remaining teeth (Odds ratio=2.03). The findings from this st
udy suggest that there may be a sex-related host sensitivity or life s
tyle which is predisposing to the development of senile cataract.