TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of cataract
T2 - Accomplishments over 25 years and future directions
AU - West, Sheila
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by grant from National Institute on Aging AG025131. Dr West is a Research to Prevent Blindness Senior Scientific Investigator.
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - The purpose of this review is to highlight the advances made by epidemiologic research into cataract. Considerable progress has been made in characterizing phenotypes, determining the prevalence and incidence in various population groups, and understanding risk factors for cataract. Cataract surgery research has documented functional improvements following surgery and has identified aspects of surgery delivery that could be made. Cataract is an independent marker of early mortality, providing a possible system for studying the aging process. Promising future work in cataract epidemiology is highlighted. Despite the availability of cataract surgery, cataract is still the leading cause of blindness worldwide. From a public health standpoint, research that can identify ways to delay onset or progression, or achieve the holy grail of prevention of cataract, should remain a leading priority.
AB - The purpose of this review is to highlight the advances made by epidemiologic research into cataract. Considerable progress has been made in characterizing phenotypes, determining the prevalence and incidence in various population groups, and understanding risk factors for cataract. Cataract surgery research has documented functional improvements following surgery and has identified aspects of surgery delivery that could be made. Cataract is an independent marker of early mortality, providing a possible system for studying the aging process. Promising future work in cataract epidemiology is highlighted. Despite the availability of cataract surgery, cataract is still the leading cause of blindness worldwide. From a public health standpoint, research that can identify ways to delay onset or progression, or achieve the holy grail of prevention of cataract, should remain a leading priority.
KW - Cataract
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Risk factor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34848892120&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34848892120&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09286580701423151
DO - 10.1080/09286580701423151
M3 - Article
C2 - 17896293
AN - SCOPUS:34848892120
SN - 0928-6586
VL - 14
SP - 173
EP - 178
JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
JF - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
IS - 4
ER -