Zhu Z, et al. - Researchers intended to determine if there is a connection between age-related cataract and 10-year mortality in 1,405 candidates, aged 50 years or older, in urban China. At baseline, candidates were examined in the Guangzhou Liwan Eye Study. All participants in the study have been invited to attend a follow-up visit of 10 years. The authors discovered that 957 candidates had visible lens opacity or history of cataract surgery. Three hundred twenty candidates died after 10 years. In participants with cataract, the 10-year mortality rate was significantly higher than in those without. The results that age-related cataract is a predictor of poorer survival relative to those without might suggest that cataract is a biomarker of ageing and frailty. Presence of cataract predicted a nearly threefold increase in the risk of mortality after adjusting for age, gender, family income, educational attainment, BMI, diabetes history and hypertension and presence of visual impairment [defined as visual acuity of 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye with habitual correction if worn].