Abstract

Background: Cataract is the major cause for visual disturbance. We aim to investigate lens opacity grade and score in residents aged ≥ 50 yrs in Hainan Province.

Methods: Random sampling was carried out to investigate the condition of lens opacity in residents aged ≥ 50 yrs of four cities at different geographic locations. Grading of lens opacity was based on the criteria of Lens Opacity Classification System III (LOCS III), which included nuclear opacity of 1~6 grade, and posterior capsular or cortical opacity of 1~5 grade. Score of lens was performed by summing nuclear, posterior capsular and cortical opacity grade.

Results: In total, 2,288 subjects were included in this study. In total, 2,619 (57.2%) eyes showed type of opacity in nuclear, and posterior capsular or cortical with an LOCS III grade of greater than 3. The major type of opacity was mixed opacity type (65.9%), followed by nuclear type (31.9%), posterior capsular type (1.5%) and cortical type (0.7%). As for lens score, most of the subjects aged 50~59 yrs and 60~69 yrs showed a score of 3~6 (87.2%, 59.9%). Among the subjects aged 70~79 yrs, a score of 7~9 was noticed in majority of subjects (35.6%). For those aged 80 yrs, most of them showed a score of 10~12 (28.2%).

Conclusion: The mixed lens opacity type was the main type of lens opacity in residents aged ≥ 50 yrs in Hainan Province, followed by nuclear opacity. Chi-square test showed that types or scores of lens opacity were different in various age groups.