Smoking, socioeconomic factors, and age-related cataract: The Singapore Malay eye study

Abstract

Objective: To describe the relationship of smoking, sex, and socioeconomic factors with age-related cataract in Malay adults in Singapore. Methods: In a population-based study, 3280 Malay individuals aged 40 to 80 years participated (78.7% response rate). All had interviews, systemic examination, and laboratory investigations. Lens opacity was graded from slitlamp and retroillumination photographs using the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Smokingcataract associations were compared with the Blue Mountains Eye Study in Australia. Results: Of 2927 participants (89.2%) with gradable lens photographs, 1338 (45.7%) had cataract. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, and d..