Ophthalmology Research: An International Journal

Background: Senile cataracts remain a leading cause of avoidable blindness worldwide, especially among the elderly. Understanding the interplay of socio-demographic, environmental, and systemic health variables can aid in effective prevention strategies.

Objective: To identify and evaluate key risk factors associated with senile cataract development in a diverse adult population aged 50 years and above.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 11,523 individuals from both urban and rural settings. Participants were stratified by region, and risk factors including age, gender, socio-economic status, occupation, addiction history, and systemic comorbidities were analyzed. Cataract status was clinically confirmed. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations between variables and cataract development.

Results: Cataract prevalence increased significantly with age, especially after 60 years. Male gender (Adjusted OR: 2.71, 95% CI: 2.38–3.08), rural residence (Adjusted OR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.92–2.44), and outdoor occupation (Adjusted OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.65–2.17) were independently associated with cataract. Lower socio-economic status (Adjusted OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.45–1.91), diabetes mellitus (Adjusted OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.59–2.32), and hypertension (Adjusted OR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.91–3.12) were also significant risk factors. Addiction (including smokeless tobacco) was not an independent predictor after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion: This study highlights the multifactorial nature of senile cataract development, with age, male gender, rural residence, low socio-economic status, systemic diseases, and occupational UV exposure as major contributors. These findings support the need for tailored public health interventions targeting vulnerable populations.