CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF SENILE CATARACT IN JAPAN - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

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.