To examine risk factors for the prevalence of dry eye syndrome in a population-based cohort. Methods: The prevalence of dry eye was determined by history at the second examination (1993-1995) of the Beaver Dam Eye Study cohort (N = 3722). Results: The cohort was aged 48 to 91 years (mean±SD, 65±10 years) and 43% male. The overall prevalence of dry eye was 14.4%. Prevalence varied from 8.4% in subjects younger than 60 years to 19.0% in those older than 80 years (PϽ.001 for test of trend). Age-adjusted prevalence in men was 11.4% compared with 16.7% in women (PϽ.001). After controlling for age and sex, the following factors were independently and significantly associated with dry eye in a logistic model: history of arthritis (odds ratio [OR],

The relationship between plasma C-peptide and the 6-year incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy was examined in a population-based study in Wisconsin. Individuals with younger-onset (n = 548) and older-onset (n = 459) diabetes were included. C-peptide was measured by radioimmunoassay with Heding's M1230 antiserum. Retinopathy was determined from stereoscopic fundus photographs. Younger- and older-onset insulin-using individuals with undetectable or low plasma C-peptide (< 0.3 nmol/l) at baseline had the highest incidence and rates of progression of retinopathy, whereas older-onset individuals with C-peptides > 0.3 nmol/l had the lowest incidence and rates of progression of retinopathy. However, within each group (younger-onset using insulin, older-onset using insulin, and older-onset not using insulin), after we controlled for other characteristics associated with retinopathy, there was no relationship between higher levels of C-peptide at baseline and lower 6-year incidence or progression of retinopathy. These data suggest that glycemic control, and not C-peptide, is related to the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy.

No abstract

The authors examined associations between smoking and alcohol consumption and the long-term incidence of age-related maculopathy (ARM) in people in the Beaver Dam Eye Study who were aged 43-86 years (n = 3,684) in 1988-1990 and examined over a 10-year period. ARM status was determined by grading stereoscopic color fundus photographs. After controlling for age, sex, and other factors, the authors found that people who had smoked more were more likely to develop large (> or =250 micro m in diameter) soft drusen (risk ratio (RR) per 10 pack-years smoked = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 1.14) and pigmentary abnormalities (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.14) and to have progression of early ARM (RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.10) than people who had smoked less. Smoking was not associated with the incidence of late ARM. People who reported being heavy drinkers at baseline were more likely to develop late ARM (RR = 6.94, 95% CI: 1.85, 26.1) than people who reported never having been heavy drinkers. Smoking appears to have a modest, positive association with early but not late signs of ARM, and heavy drinking appears to be related to an increased risk of late ARM, although the exposure and outcome were infrequent, and the effect is based on few exposed cases.