Lens cadmium, lead, and serum vitamins C, E, and beta carotene in cataractous smoking patients.

Purpose: To investigate the association between smoking and subcapsular cataract and blood levels of cadmium and lead, and serum levels of vitamins C, E, and beta carotene in the middle-age male population.

Subjects And Methods: The present study comprised 60 cataractous male patients aged 44-55 years who attended Mansoura University Ophthalmic Center. They were divided into two groups: the first group was comprised of 15 patients who had never smoked before with minimal exposure to cigarette smoking (control group), while the second group was comprised of 45 age and body mass index-matched smokers.