Prevalence and associated factors of lens opacities among Chinese type 2 diabetics in Kinmen, Taiwan

The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of lens opacities among type 2 diabetics in Kinmen, Taiwan. A community-based mass screening ascertained 971 type 2 diabetics from 1991 to 1993. From that population, a total of 578 (59.5%) patients with type 2 diabetes underwent eye screening in 1999 with a 45° thin slit-lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy to examine the lens after dilation of the pupils. The prevalence of nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular (PSC) opacity without surgery among type 2 diabetics was 22.5, 20.2, and 19.9%, respectively. The number of females affected was statistically higher than males in each type of lens opacity. The prevalence of each type of lens opacity also showed a statistically significant increase with (χ² test). Based on multiple logistic regressions, age was the most significant factor related with each type of lens opacity. Triglyceride at baseline was associated with nuclear opacity (≥200 vs. <200 mg/dl, OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.15–4.79) and PSC opacity (≥200 vs. <200 mg/dl, OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.00–4.43). In conclusion, our results show that in addition to age, higher triglyceride level may increase the risk of prevalent nuclear or PSC opacity in type 2 diabetics.