To evaluate the association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism and cataracts in the Korean population.

The present research included participants from a population-based study in Incheon, Korea. A sample of 126 adults genotyped for polymorphisms of APOE underwent a medical interview, an eye examination which included visual acuity testing, slitlamp cataract evaluation and fundus examination. The APOE polymorphism was determined using a polymerase chain reaction method.

Eighty-eight participants (69.8%) were diagnosed with cataracts or had undergone cataract surgery in 1 or both eyes, and 38 participants (30.2%) demonstrated no signs of cataract. The frequencies of the APOE genotypes and alleles were not significantly different from the cataract and the control group. APOE ε2 carriers were less likely to have cataracts than non-ε2 carriers with an odds ratio of 0.367 which was almost statistically significant with the multiple logistic regression analysis ( p = 0.052).

There was no significant correlation of APOE genotype and cataracts. However, a slight negative association of APOE ε2 and cataracts were found in the Korean population.