TY - JOUR
T1 - Baseline ophthalmic findings in the Vitamin E, Cataract and Age-Related Maculopathy (VECAT) study
AU - Robman, L. D.
AU - Tikellis, G.
AU - Garrett, S. K M
AU - Harper, C. A.
AU - McNeil, J. J.
AU - Taylor, H. R.
AU - McCarty, C. A.
PY - 1999/12/1
Y1 - 1999/12/1
N2 - Purpose: To describe the methodology of eye examination and the baseline eye characteristics of the Vitamin E, Cataract and Age-Related Maculopathy (VECAT) study participants. Methods: A sample of volunteers from an urban area of Melbourne, Australia, were recruited to participate in a randomized, controlled trial investigating the effect of vitamin E on the development of cataract and age-related maculopathy. Standardized eye examinations involved clinical assessment, which included Wilmer grading of the lens, digital photography of the lens with Nidek EAS-1000 lens camera and stereo photography of the macular area with the Nidek 3-DX fundus camera. All cases of ophthalmic findings were determined on the basis of pathology in the worse eye. Results: Most eyes were free from abnormalities. The most frequent findings were cataract and age-related macular changes. Nuclear cataract (nuclear opacity grade ≥2) was present in 4.5%, cortical cataract (cortical opacity grade ≥2) in 14.3% and posterior subcapsular cataract in 3.0% of participants; in addition, coronary cataract was observed in 13.6%. Soft drusen larger than 125 μm were found in 11.4%, retinal pigment epithelium changes in 9.5%, epiretinal membrane in 6.6% and age-related macular degeneration in 0.5% of participants. Summary: Due to the selection criteria, the majority of participants had clear or minor lens changes and/or minor retinal age-related changes. Precise instrumental documentation will allow an accurate assessment of the incidence and dynamics of these changes throughout 4 years of observation.
AB - Purpose: To describe the methodology of eye examination and the baseline eye characteristics of the Vitamin E, Cataract and Age-Related Maculopathy (VECAT) study participants. Methods: A sample of volunteers from an urban area of Melbourne, Australia, were recruited to participate in a randomized, controlled trial investigating the effect of vitamin E on the development of cataract and age-related maculopathy. Standardized eye examinations involved clinical assessment, which included Wilmer grading of the lens, digital photography of the lens with Nidek EAS-1000 lens camera and stereo photography of the macular area with the Nidek 3-DX fundus camera. All cases of ophthalmic findings were determined on the basis of pathology in the worse eye. Results: Most eyes were free from abnormalities. The most frequent findings were cataract and age-related macular changes. Nuclear cataract (nuclear opacity grade ≥2) was present in 4.5%, cortical cataract (cortical opacity grade ≥2) in 14.3% and posterior subcapsular cataract in 3.0% of participants; in addition, coronary cataract was observed in 13.6%. Soft drusen larger than 125 μm were found in 11.4%, retinal pigment epithelium changes in 9.5%, epiretinal membrane in 6.6% and age-related macular degeneration in 0.5% of participants. Summary: Due to the selection criteria, the majority of participants had clear or minor lens changes and/or minor retinal age-related changes. Precise instrumental documentation will allow an accurate assessment of the incidence and dynamics of these changes throughout 4 years of observation.
KW - Age-related maculopathy
KW - Cataract
KW - Maculopathy
KW - Randomized controlled trial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033377501&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1440-1606.1999.00240.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1440-1606.1999.00240.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 10641899
AN - SCOPUS:0033377501
VL - 27
SP - 410
EP - 416
JO - Australian & NZ Journal of Ophthalmology
JF - Australian & NZ Journal of Ophthalmology
SN - 0814-9763
IS - 6
ER -