In Atopic Cataracts, Lenses Are Often Thinner Than Others

Lenses with atopic cataracts tend to be thinner than those with nonatopic cataracts and normal lenses, according to research published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Additionally, atopic cataracts frequently present with anterior subcapsular opacity, which is also associated with lens thinning, researchers report.

The researchers conducted a retrospective case-control study to evaluate whether atopic cataracts are associated with thinner lenses. The study included 124 eyes of 108 patients (mean age, 43.35±9.25 years; 80.55% men). Patients were matched for age (±4 years) and sex and divided into 3 groups based on cataract classification: 31 eyes with atopic cataracts, 62 eyes with nonatopic cataracts, and 31 eyes without cataracts. 

The mean lens thickness in the atopic group (3.76±0.40 mm) was significantly thinner than that in the non-atopic (3.94±0.49 mm; P =.036) and normal lens (4.11±0.40 mm; P <.001) groups. Similar results were observed when the analyses were performed using 1 eye per patient. 

Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that thinner lens thickness was negatively correlated with age (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% CI 0.86-0.96) and positively correlated with anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC; OR, 5.61; 95% CI, 1.97-15.99). ASC was observed in 38.7% of eyes with nonatopic cataracts and 77.4% of those in the atopic group. Atopy showed no significant association with lens thickness.

“We hypothesized that anterior subcapsular opacity in atopic cataracts reflects lens epithelial cell damage caused by toxins such as [eosinophil granule major basic proteins (MBP)] and may be associated with lens thinning,” the researchers report.

Limitations of the study included the single-center design, relatively small sample size, inclusion of self-reported information from medical records, potential selection bias, especially in the nonatopic cataract group, potential selection bias due to the use of both eyes in some patients, and inability to statistically clarify the effects of atopy and ASC due to the small sample sizes.