Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Posterior Subcapsular Cataract In A German Cohort

Posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC) are a significant cause of vision impairment, often progressing rapidly and affecting individuals at a relatively younger age. While the influence of systemic and local factors on PSC progression has been studied, variations exist across populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify risk factors associated with PSC within a German cohort.

Dardenne Eye Hospital, Bonn, Germany

We analysed data from cataract surgery patients at our hospital between January and June 2022 using a local cataract database. Information on ocular and general medications, pre-existing conditions, and ocular biometry parameters was extracted. LOCS-III values were used to categorize data, enabling the evaluation of prevalence and systemic and ocular risk factors.

A total of 1,205 cases from 1,180 patients were included in this study, with 399 cases (33%) exhibiting non or trace subcapsular opacities (graded P0 or 0.5), 524 cases (45%) showing mild subcapsular opacities (graded P1 to 2.5) and 264 eyes (22%) showing visually significant subcapsular cataracts (graded P3 or higher). 79 eyes (10%) had severe PSC (5.0 or higher). The median LOCS III PSC grade was 2.0. and the occurrence of visually significant PSC was similar across genders.

This study reveals a high prevalence of posterior subcapsular cataract in a German cohort at the time of cataract surgery. Notably, visually significant PSC is observed in 22% of cases, with no discernible gender preference. We will report on ocular and systemic risk factors.