In a new analysis of UK Biobank data, researchers investigated both cross-sectional and long-term associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels and cataract risk.

For the cross-sectional analysis, they assessed 442,255 UK Biobank participants with available serum 25(OH)D data and found that higher serum 25(OH)D quartiles were inversely associated with cataract risk (P for trend <.001). In the longitudinal evaluation with mean follow-up of 10.8 years and 427,923 participants without baseline cataract, the researchers found that vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with increased incident cataract risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–1.15).

Logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and cataract risk. Compared with the reference group (50 to 75 nmol/L), participants with severe vitamin D deficiency (less than 25 nmol/L) showed elevated cataract risk across age groups:

• Under 50 years: 27% higher risk (HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.07–1.49)
• Ages 50 to 60 years: 12% higher risk (HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.04–1.21)
• Above 60 years: 9% higher risk (HR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04–1.14) 

“These findings emphasize the importance of early monitoring and intervention to address vitamin D deficiency and mitigate cataract risk,” Yu Peng, of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong concluded with colleagues in BMJ Ophthalmology.