The detection of cataract development risk factors at workers of industrial interprises
ustrial enterprises with extremely dangerous work conditions. Methods: Under medical observation there were 130 persons (168 eyes) from 27 to 55, who were made the diagnosis of early age cataract. The control group (50 men and 50 women) without any eye pathology was chosen at the same enterprises. Their case history was made in accordance with the scheme specially elaborated to reveal the risk factors which contribute to early cataract. Their sex, age, long-term contact with radiant energy, ultra-sound, chemicals, serving in the rocket forces, work on the computer, harmful habits, hereditary cataract, obesity, gall disease, hepatitis, allergy, long-term therapy, thyroid diseases, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease, turning grey at an early age were taken into account. Such signs of an ageing organism as iris dystrophia, herontocson and vitreous destruction were also taken into consideration. Results: To authentic risk factors of cataract development in people under 55 one can refer aggravated cataract inheritance, ophthalmic signs of early ageing (herontocson, iris dystrophia, vitreous destruction), female obesity combined with gall disease, cardiovascular diseases (IHD and atherosclerosis) in men. Such factors as the influence of ultrasound, long-term contact with radiant energy, smoking, serving in the rocket forces, contact with chemicals (acetone, carbon mixtures, mercury, nitric acid, chromium, phosphorus, inorganic combinations), allergy, thyroid diseases, arterial hypertention, hepatitis, early ageing, long-term analgetics therapy are not authentic risk factors of cataract development. Conclusion: Work at those industrial enterprises where the main harmful factors are contact with radiant energy, ultrasound and chemicals, such as acetone, carbon mixtures, nitric acid, chromium, phosphorus, inorganic combinations is not an authentically confirmed factor in the age-group of persons under 55.