Association of Serum Vitamin D Levels with Senile Cataract
of vitamin D with cataract formation but there are
conflicting results. In our study we found no
statistically significant difference in levels of vitamin
D in control and cataract patients and found no role of
vitamin D in cataract development. This is in
accordance to the findings of Rao P et al21who also
stated that vitamin D levels were not related to
cataract. On the other hand, Park S22 reported that
serum vitamin D levels were inversely associated to
the risk of developing cataract. Similarly, Jee D23
reported that age related cataracts were significantly
decreased in patients with high serum vitamin D
levels.
Aqsa Malik; Assistant Professor: Manuscript review.
Atteya Zaman; Assistant Professor: Interpretation of
data, Manuscript review.
Rabia Shabbir; Assistant Professor: Interpretation of
data, Manuscript review.
Masooma Bilal; Assistant Professor: Critical appraisal
of findings with literature, Manuscript review.
REFERENCES
1. Alam M, Idris M, Hussain M. Frequency of Different
Types of Age Related Cataracts (Study of 250 cases).
Ophthalmology Update, 2013; 11 (1): 25.
Supporters of vitamin D deficiency leading to
cataract have postulated some pathways. According to
Brown CJ16 vitamin D regulating systemic calcium
also regulates calcium levels in aqueous humor.
Vitamin D levels were negatively correlated to
parathyroid. Cataract is associated with parathyroid
hormone disorders; therefore, when vitamin D levels
decrease, parathyroid hormone levels are increased
leading to cataract formation.16 Another pathway is
disruption of calcium homeostasis caused by vitamin
D deficiency producing lens opacification by lens
protein aggregation and abnormal differentiation of
lens epithelial cells into fibrocytes24.
2. Hassan B, Ahmed R, Li B, Noor A, ul Hassan Z. A
comprehensive study capturing vision loss burden in
Pakistan (1990-2025): Findings from the Global Burden
of Disease (GBD) 2017 study. PloS one, 2019; 14 (5).
3. Iqbal Y, Zia S, Khan QA. Post operative Anterior
Chamber Reaction in Adult Cataract Surgery after
Adding Heparin in Irrigating Solution. Pak
J
Ophthalmol. 2014; 30 (4).
4. García-Layana A, Ciufo G, Toledo E, Martínez-
González MA, Corella D, Fitó M, et al. The effect of
a Mediterranean diet on the incidence of cataract
surgery. Nutrients, 2017; 9 (5): 453.
5. Kuruvilla A. Background Causes of Human Cataract.
Indian JApp Res. 2019; 10; 9 (7).
6. Rakete S, Nagaraj RH. UVA Light‐mediated
Ascorbate Oxidation in Human Lenses. Photochem
photobiol. 2017; 93 (4): 1091-5.
7. Hussain F, Malik A, Qureshi MS, Imran M,
Waquar S, Shafique H, et al. Homeostatic relevance
of vitamin D in maintaining male fertility in human:
Down–regulation of oxidative stress and up-regulation
of anti-oxidative defense and steroidal hormones. Asian
Pac J Reprod. 2018; 7 (2): 56.
Limitations of our study were that it was an
observational study and it was confined to a particular
area. Confounders like time spent outdoors, sunlight
exposure, dietary habits and ethnicity were not taken
into account. Furthermore, linear analysis was not
done but we still we feel that this study will be a new
milestone in cataract and vitamin D association.
8. Udani SK, Qureshi SA, Lateef T, Jafri L, Effendi
MU, Raheem A, et al. Vitamin D and bone metabolism
in breast cancer patients in Karachi, Pakistan. Pak J
Pharm Sci. 2019; 32 (2) (Supplementary): 875-880.
9. Varma SD, Kovtun S, Hegde KR. Role of UV
irradiation and oxidative stress in cataract formation.
Medical prevention by nutritional antioxidants and
metabolic agonists. Eye contact lens, 2011; 37 (4): 233.
10. Baig MA, Mahmood S, Munir R, Shahid S. To study
the Visual Outcome and Complications of Small
Incision Cataract Extraction (SICS) with Intra Ocular
Lens implantation (IOL). Pak J Med Health Sci. 2017;
11 (1): 237-9.
CONCLUSION
There was no statistically significant difference
between the vitamin D levels of cataract patients and
the age matched controls.
Ethical Approval
The study was approved by the Institutional review
board/Ethical review board.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
11. Haider S, Hussain A, Limburg H. Cataract blindness
in Chakwal District, Pakistan: results of a survey.
Ophth Epidemiol. 2003; 10 (4): 249-58.
Authors’ Designation and Contribution
Yasir Iqbal Malik; Associate Professor: Concept and
drafting of article, Manuscript review.
12. Sasaki H, Jonasson F, Shui YB, Kojima M, Ono M,
Katoh N, Cheng HM, et al. High prevalence of
Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology, 2020, Vol. 36 (3): 258-262
261