Prevalence of Cataract and its Affecting Factors in Iranian Sailors in 2017- Cross-sectional Study

Cataract refers to the opacity of the lens that impairs vision. Sailors are at risk for radiation sickness and trauma. The present study investigates the prevalence of cataracts and the factors affecting it in Iranian sailors.

This cross-sectional study was performed during 2017. The medical records of all Iranian sailors who went to the ophthalmology department and had a cataract were included in the census method. The researcher extracted the necessary data from the medical records of patients by visiting the ophthalmology department and registering it in the checklist. A checklist containing demographic (age, sex, education) and clinical data of patients was recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.

The total number of medical records of Iranian sailors was 2,500, of which 337 (13.48%) had cataracts or had a history of cataract surgery. The mean age, diabetes, medicine use, and head trauma were significantly higher in people with cataracts than others and their education level was significantly lower than others.

Considering that the sailors is one of the groups at risk for cataracts and a prevalence of 13.48% was reported in the present study, so periodic medical examination is necessary in this case.