Cataracts are the most frequent cause of blindness and vision impairment in developing countries. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors influencing the incidence of cataracts and to quantify their magnitude of risk. The study was an observational case-control analysis conducted at Primaya Hospital Hertasning, Makassar, Indonesia, including 158 cases and 158 controls, with a mean age of 53.52 ± 15.44 years. Several risk factors demonstrated statistically significant associations with cataract incidence, including age ≥60 years (defined as the high-risk age group) (p < 0.001), male sex (p < 0.001), outdoor occupation (p = 0.025), history of trauma (p = 0.005), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), and hypertension (p < 0.001). Bivariate odds ratios were as follows: history of trauma [OR 11.748 (95% CI: 1.498–92.125)], high-risk age group [OR 11.491 (95% CI: 6.676–19.780)], diabetes mellitus [OR 6.559 (95% CI: 2.213–19.444)], and hypertension [OR 6.064 (95% CI: 3.470–10.536)]. The wide confidence interval for trauma history reflects the limited number of trauma cases in the sample. Multivariate logistic regression identified trauma history as the most dominant independent risk factor, with individuals with a history of trauma having approximately 20 times the risk of developing cataracts compared to those without (Exp(B) = 20.014). A comprehensive understanding of these risk factors is essential for developing targeted strategies to reduce the burden of cataract-related blindness.
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