Prevalence and risk factors of corneal abnormalities in 60years and older; Tehran geriatric eye study

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) England), 2022-12, Vol.100 (S275)
• Main Authors: Abbas Ali Yekta, Khabazkhoob, Mehdi, Hashemi, Hassan, Pakzad, Reza, Aghamirsalim, Mohamadreza, Moniri, Mohamadreza, Ostadimoghaddam, Hadi, Yekta, Reihaneh, Yeganeh Yekta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Cornea; Corneal dystrophy; Degeneration; Endothelium; Geriatrics; Population studies; Risk factors; Statistical sampling; Vascularization
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2022.0007

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of some corneal abnormalities and determine their important risk factors of elderly population of Tehran.Methods: Tehran Geriatric Eye Study was a population‐based cross‐sectional study conducted in 60 years and older of the population of Tehran using stratified cluster random sampling. The participants underwent complete optometric and ophthalmic examination. Firth's logistic regression analysis was used to model the most important risk factors.Results: Of 3781 invited individuals, 3310 participated in the study. Age and sex standardized prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) of posterior embryotoxon (PE), punctate epithelial defect (PED), pigment on endothelium (POE), corneal dystrophy (CDys), corneal vascularization (CV) and corneal degeneration (CDeg) was 0.08% (0.02–0.40), 8.77% (6.64–11.51), 0.57% (0.33–0.98), 0.53% (0.33–0.82), 0.95% (0.60–1.52), and 44.87% (41.80–47.98), respectively. Overall, 49.08% of study participants had some type of corneal abnormality in at least one eye. Based on the results of model building, PED had a positive association with age (OR: 2.03 for >80 years old vs. 60–64 years. old, p: 0.001) and an inverse association with socioeconomic status (SES) (OR: 0.52 for highest vs. lowest, p: 0.004). CDeg had a positive association with age (OR: 2.79 for >80 years. old vs. 60–64 years old; p 80 years. old vs. 60–64 years. old, p: 0.028) and an inverse association with SES 20 (OR: 0.17 for high vs. lowest, p: 0.017) and female sex (OR: 0.44, p: 0.048). Among all variables, age had the highest standardized coefficient (age standardized coefficient was 0.090, 0.193, and 0.191 for PED, CV, and CDeg, respectively).Conclusions: Overall, one in every two people aged 60 years and over has at least one corneal abnormality, especially CDeg. Age was the most important determinants in the occurrence of corneal abnormalities. Therefore, Priority should be given to old people in designing diagnostic and treatment interventions.