αA crystallin may protect against geographic atrophy-meta-analysis of cataract vs. cataract surgery for geographic atrophy and experimental studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cataract and geographic atrophy (GA, also called advanced "dry" age-related macular degeneration) are the two major causes of visual impairment in the developed world. The association between cataract surgery and the development of GA was controversial in previous studies.

Methods/principal findings

We performed a meta-analysis by pooling the current evidence in literature and found that cataract is associated with an increased risk of geographic atrophy with a summary odds ratio (OR) of 3.75 (95% CI: 95% CI: 1.84-7.62). However, cataract surgery is not associated with the risk of geographic atrophy (polled OR=3.23, 95% CI: 0.63-16.47). Further experiments were performed to analyze how the αA-crystallin, the major component of the lens, influences the development

SUBMITTER: Zhou P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3423426 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature