Individuals with cataract at increased risk of developing herpes zoster: Study

A new study published in the journal of Frontiers in Medicine showed that the individuals with cataracts were more likely to get herpes zoster when compared to people without cataracts.

Given their high frequency, related morbidity, and healthcare burden, cataracts and herpes zoster are undoubtedly common illnesses among the elderly population and pose serious global public health issues. The gradual clouding of the lens, which is linked to a reduction in visual acuity, is what defines a cataract. The most common cause of blindness and visual impairment is still cataracts. 

Herpes zoster is a serious health burden since it can produce unpleasant symptoms and therefore lower quality of life. The connection between cataract and herpes zoster is yet unknown, despite the fact that both diseases have some risk factors in common, including age and weakened immune systems. Therefore, this cohort research was to determine if Taiwanese people with cataracts are more susceptible to herpes zoster.

Over the course of 8 years (2013–2020), a cohort of people with cataracts, ages 20 to 84, was compiled using Taiwan National Health Insurance Program electronic health data. The non-cataract group was chosen from the same database of people who had attended an ophthalmology clinic but were not diagnosed with cataracts. Between the two groups, the incidence rate of herpes zoster throughout the follow-up period was computed. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the two groups' risk of herpes zoster while controlling for possible variables.

Almost, 1,299,685 people with cataracts and 1,138,887 people without cataracts were part of the cohort study. In the cataract group, about 43.9% of study participants were male, and the mean age was 64 years old. About 47.1% of research participants in the non-cataract group were male, and the mean age was 63.6 years old.

In the group with cataracts, the incidence rate of herpes zoster was 10.84 per 1,000 person-years, whereas in the group without cataracts, it was 8.64 per 1,000 person-years (incidence rate ratio = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.24–1.27, P < 0.001). When comparing those with cataracts to those without, the hazard ratio for herpes zoster was 1.22 (95% CI = 1.21–1.23, P < 0.001) after controlling for possible covariates.

Overall, these findings emphasize how crucial it is to take into account the higher risk of herpes zoster in those who have cataracts. This demographic should be vaccinated against herpes zoster as part of public health programs. Since there are not any directly comparable studies, this research recommend more study to determine whether there is a direct link or just a coincidental association between cataract and herpes zoster.

Reference:

Lai, S.-W., Kuo, Y.-H., & Liao, K.-F. (2025). Investigating the association between cataract and the risk of herpes zoster in a cohort study. Frontiers in Medicine, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1492365