AIM: To evaluate the relationship of early-life and childhood exposures and age-related cataract(ARC), and provide a scientific evidence for early preventing, treating and detecting ARC.

METHODS: A hospital-based case control study was conducted from April 2011 to October 2012.A total of 360 cases(360 eyes)aged 41～60 years old for cataract extraction and 360 frequency-matched controls in the same hospital for various not related to ARC were included in the study. A structured interviewer-administrated questionnaire that included information on sociodemographic characteristics, early-life and childhood exposures was used. The risk factors of ARC were estimated with unconditioned logistic regression models.

RESULTS:Early gestational age at birth sooner and lower birth weight was significantly associated with the risk of ARC(OR=1.152,95%CI:1.029～2.235,P=0.024; OR=1.374, 95%CI:1.156～2.581,P=0.037,respectively). The maternal pre-pregnancy diabetes(OR=1.587, 95%CI:1.177～2.915,P=0.019),gestational diabetes(OR=1.763,95%CI:1.375～2.367,P=0.004), preeclampsia(OR=1.581, 95%CI: 1.139～1.996,P=0.021), and pregnancy induced hypertension(OR=1.517, 95%CI:1.032～1.963,P=0.024)could make the risk of ARC increased. Of the factors affecting the period of children, only shorter height relative to peers and overweight at age 10 were significantly associated with the risk of ARC(OR=1.329, 95%CI:1.072～2.351,P=0.038; OR=2.302, 95%CI:1.323～3.196,P=0.011, respectively).

CONCLUSION:Early gestational age at birth, low birth weight, the maternal pre-pregnancy diabetes, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension, and shorter height and overweight relative to peers, at age 10 were risk factors of ARC. But lasted long large and prospective studies are needed to insure early risk factors for ARC in the Chinese population.