Urbanization Inequalities on the Incidence of Intraocular Cancers in Iran: An 11-Year Nationwide Retrospective Ecological Study

Published date: Jan 12 2026

Journal Title: Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research

Issue title: ‎Volume 20 - 2025

Pages: 1 - 11

DOI: 10.18502/jovr.v20.16500

Sare Safisare.safi@yahoo.comOphthalmic Epidemiology Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Zahra Khorramizahrakhorrame@ymail.comOphthalmic Epidemiology Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Mohadese Ahmadzadeahmadzadeh.mohadese@gmail.comOphthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Mohammad Esmaeil Akbariprofmeakbari@gmail.comCancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Hamidreza Rouientanhamidreza.rouientan@gmail.comOphthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Seyed Mohammadmehdi Moshtaghionmehdimoshtaghiuon@gmail.comOphthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Mohammad Abolhosseinim.abolhoseini@gmail.comOcular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Mozhgan Rezaei Kanavirezaeikanavi@sbmu.ac.irOcular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Saeed Karimidr.saeedkarimi@gmail.comOphthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran

Purpose: To report the relationship between urbanization and the incidence of intraocular cancers in Iran.

Methods: In this retrospective ecological study, data were extracted from the Statistical Center of Iran, the Meteorological Organization, and the Iranian National Population-based Cancer Registry (INPCR, 2006–2016). The urbanization index (UI) was calculated using principal component analysis, and weighted multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between the UI and the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of intraocular cancers.

Results: Six hundred and fifty-four intraocular cancer cases with a gender ratio (male-to-female) of 1:13 were recorded. The mean total 11-year ASIR of intraocular cancers was 0.093 per 100,000 population. The mean ASIR showed a decrease of 0.051 per 100,000 from 2006 to 2016 (P = 0.022). Retinoblastoma (66.1%) and uveal melanoma (24.6%) were the most commonly diagnosed intraocular cancers, and their ASIR declined between 2006 and 2016. Once adjusted for environmental pollutants, an increase in the area-based UI was significantly associated with lower total ASIR of intraocular cancers in males (β = –0.14).

Conclusion: Urbanization was associated with a reduction in ASIR of intraocular cancers, which can be attributed to improved access to eye care facilities for timely diagnosis. However, given that the INPCR cases were verified only by histology, future research should be conducted on hospital-based registries using multiple data sources to address confounders and exposure factors and prevent underestimation of incidence rates.

Keywords: Incidence, Intraocular Cancers, Iran, Urbanization

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