Cataracts May Up Risk of Osteoporosis and Fracture

Cataracts can put older people at risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures. All the elders with osteoporosis or fractures are required to check their vision to prevent and treat cataract early.

Older people with cataracts were found to be more at risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures, reveals a new study.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, revealed that the diagnosis of cataracts was associated with a 29 per cent increased risk of developing osteoporosis or fracture.

Cataract - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
A cataract is cloudiness in the crystalline lens of the eye that results in a gradually progressive painless diminution of vision.

‘All the elders with osteoporosis or fractures are required to check their vision to prevent and treat cataract early.’
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In analyses for each individual event, the diagnosis of cataracts was associated with a 43 per cent increased risk of osteoporosis, a 16 per cent increased risk of hip fracture, a 25 per cent increased risk of vertebral fracture, and a 24 per cent increased risk of other fractures.

Patients who underwent cataract surgery also had a 42 percent lower risk of developing osteoporosis or fracture.

"Appropriate management of cataracts may decrease osteoporosis and fracture risks," said lead author Huei-Kai Huang, from the Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taiwan.

Intraocular Lens Implants (IOL) - Types, Procedure, Recovery & Complications
An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens made of silicone or acrylic, placed within the eye when the natural lens is removed, most often for cataract.

"I strongly recommend all elders with osteoporosis or fractures to check their vision," added co-author Ching-Hui Loh from the hospital.

A cataract is a dense, cloudy area that forms in the lens of the eye, while osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle.

Nystagmus - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Nystagmus is a condition where the eyes make rapid, repetitive and uncontrolled movements. Usually both eyes are affected.

Calcium deficiency is considered an important factor in the development of both osteoporosis and cataract.

For the study, the team studied 57,972 cataract patients who were matched to 57,972 healthy controls.

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Statins can prevent cataracts - the leading cause of visual impairment worldwide affecting more than 20 million people, reveals study.

During an average follow-up time of 6.4 years, 17,450 patients developed osteoporosis or fractures in the cataract group, and 12,627 in the non-cataract group.

Source-IANS