New research suggests that measuring biological ageing could enable clinicians to identify patients at elevated risk of cataracts before significant vision loss occurs, potentially opening the door to earlier preventive strategies.
The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology,1 examined the relationship between biological ageing markers and cataract susceptibility across two large population cohorts. Researchers analysed data from 5,433 participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and 269,615 participants from the UK Biobank, all aged 40 and above.
Three biological age indicators were assessed: phenotypic age (PhenoAge), the Klemera-Doubal method (KDMAge), and retinal age (RetiAge). Using logistic regression and longitudinal analysis, the team found that accelerated biological ageing was consistently associated with a greater likelihood of developing cataracts across both cohorts.
If validated in further research, biological ageing markers could eventually inform risk stratification and early screening protocols
Retinal age acceleration produced the strongest effect estimates in longitudinal analysis, with a hazard ratio of 1.54 (95% CI 1.38 to 1.73), compared with PhenoAge acceleration (HR 1.05) and KDMAge acceleration (HR 1.06). Among the UK Biobank participants, KDMAge acceleration also showed associations with glaucoma risk, while PhenoAge acceleration was linked to age-related macular degeneration.
If validated in further research, biological ageing markers could eventually inform risk stratification and early screening protocols, with lifestyle modification or targeted monitoring offered to higher-risk patients. The researchers note that whether slowing biological ageing can delay cataract onset remains to be established.
Reference
- Chi K, He Y, Yu H, et a. Linking accelerated biological ageing to cataract susceptibility: evidence from cross-cohort analysis. Br J Ophthalmol. 2026 May 12:bjo-2025-329061. doi: 10.1136/bjo-2025-329061.
