Introduction. All over the world, there is an annual increase in the number of people with low vision and blindness, one of the main causes of which is cataract. The most effective both for the patient in terms of maintaining a high level of quality of life and reducing the economic burden on health care is the prevention of the development of the disease. Therefore, it is important to study the factors associated with senile cataract (SC), taking into account which in the future it will be possible to develop and implement preventive measures to prevent the development of the disease, both at the population and individual levels. Purpose: to study the association of SC with medical and social characteristics in a sample of people aged 40 years and older. Material and methods. The design of the study is an observational case-control study. The collection of primary material was carried out by an ophthalmologist at the polyclinic of the City Clinical Hospital No. 4 in Tambov. A comparative analysis of thirteen medical and social indicators was carried out between groups of patients with SC (n=383) and without SC (n=341). The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, SC was used as a dependent variable, and medical and social characteristics of patients with a proven relationship with SC were used as independent variables. Results. In the cohort of persons aged 40 years and older, SC is associated with age (OR=1.023; 95% CI 1.007-1.040), female sex (OR=1.861; 95% CI 1.384-2.502). After standardization for age and gender, SC are associated with lack of higher education (OR=1.858; 95% CI 1.374–2.514), nicotine dependence (OR=7.268; 95% CI 5.126–10.304), sun exposure (OR=1.406; 95 % CI 1.025-1.928), lack of physical activity (OR=1.789; 95% CI 1.277-2.505), elevated body mass index (OR=1.054; 95% CI 1.021-1.087), hypertension (OR=4.920; 95% CI 3.548-6.823). Conclusion. In a sample of people aged 40 years and older, medico-social factors were identified that increase the likelihood of developing SC, which include age, female sex, lack of higher education, nicotine addiction, exposure to insolation, complete lack of physical activity, increased body mass index, hypertension. The identified factors can be used in the development of screening programs to stratify patients with a high probability of developing SC. The presented data are useful for health care managers in the formation of long-term strategies to combat blindness caused by SC.