Acquired cataract in individuals of age 25 – 45 years: it’s risk factors

Purpose:To study the risk factors of acquired cataract in individuals of age 25 – 45 years and to evaluate the type of cataract. Methods - The present study was a cross-sectional study. It was intended at documenting the risk factors for the development of early age cataracts. In this study, all the patients in the age group of 25-45 years with unilateral and bilateral diminished vision who are diagnosed as cataracts are recruited and history evaluated for any possible risk factors and eye examination done to know the type of cataract. Results :Among 100 patients taken into the study, there were 69 females (69 % ) and 31 males (31 %). 92 patients (92 %) had bilateral cataracts and 8 patients (8%) had unilateral cataracts.The prevalence of cataracts was high in the age group be- tween 39 – 45 years ( 67 % ).UV exposure was statistically significant with corti- cal cataracts and PSC with p values < 0.000023 (p < 0.05 is significant ) and not significant with nuclear and mixed cataracts. Atopy was also statistically signifi- cant for cortical cataracts and PSC with p- value at < 0.00484.Steroid exposure was statistically significant for PSC with p-value < 0.00001..Other risk factors like trauma, diabetes, smoking, uveitis, glaucoma were low to be calculated statisti- cally when taken individually and can be considered as associated factors with atopy and steroids and UV exposure being the dominant risk factors. ConclusioN- The prevalence of cataract was higher in the age group between 39-45 years with male to female ratio of 1:2.2.UVB exposure, atopy, steroids, smoking, trauma and glaucoma were the probable risk factors with UV expo- sure, atopy and steroid intake being dominan