Prevalence of cataract in adult Down's syndrome patients

Conclusions Compared with the general population, the prevalence of cataract in Down’s syndrome was raised in those aged 45 to 64, but not in those aged 65 to 75 years; the latter might be a function of the relatively small number of patients in this age group. The increased prevalence of cataract found in those in the 45to 64-year-old age group may be the result of increased levels of CuZnSOD, in turn resulting from the location of the associated five exons of SOD1 on chromosome 21. These elevated levels of superoxide dismutase may give rise to increased levels of reactive species, including hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, which may increase the risk of cataractogenesis.