May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
High Prevalence of Pterygium in the Population of a Tropical Area in China -Sanya Eye Study-
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • K. Sasaki
    Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • H. Sasaki
    Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
    Department of Ophthalmology,
    Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • R. Honda
    Social and Environmental Medicine,
    Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • Y. Kawakami
    Department of Ophthalmology,
    Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • M. Kojima
    Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
    Department of Ophthalmology,
    Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • Y. Sakamoto
    Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
    Department of Ophthalmology,
    Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • J. Qu
    Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
    Department of Ophthalmology,
    Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • Y. Yamashiro
    Division of Vision Research for Environmental Health, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
  • J. Zhang
    Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
  • Z. Liu
    Department of Ophthalmology, Sanya People`s Hospital, Sanya, China
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships K. Sasaki, None; H. Sasaki, None; R. Honda, None; Y. Kawakami, None; M. Kojima, None; Y. Sakamoto, None; J. Qu, None; Y. Yamashiro, None; J. Zhang, None; Z. Liu, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 5292. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      K. Sasaki, H. Sasaki, R. Honda, Y. Kawakami, M. Kojima, Y. Sakamoto, J. Qu, Y. Yamashiro, J. Zhang, Z. Liu; High Prevalence of Pterygium in the Population of a Tropical Area in China -Sanya Eye Study-. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):5292.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose:: To describe the prevalence of pterygium among rural inhabitants in a tropical area of China.

Methods:: Some 558 people (79.6% of the total population) aged 50 yrs and over living in Miaolin village in the suburb of Sanya City (latitude 18° N) were enrolled in this survey. Diagnosis of pterygium was determined, by a single observer, as conjunctival tissue covering the surface of the periphery of the cornea. Severity of pterygium was classified into three grades according to the proportion of the radius covered; grade 1 (< 1/3), grade 2 (1/3 to 2/3) and grade 3 (> 2/3). Subjects were excluded from the study if there was another documented explanation for the impairment such as trauma. Cases where surgery for pterygium had been performed were also diagnosed as cases of pterygium. Statistical analysis was done using Fisher’s exact test, Cochran-Armitage trend test and Logistic regression analysis.

Results:: Prevalence of pterygium was 71.7% and was significantly higher in females (74.9%) than in males (66.0%). Prevalence increased as eyes aged with 61.6% in their 50s, 80.8% in their 60s, 83.7% in their 70s and 84.4% in those aged 80 yrs and over; a total of 49.9% were bilateral and 20.4% unilateral. Regarding severity, 61.8% were grade 1, 23.3% grade 2 and 14.9% grade 3. Regarding location, 82.7% were nasal, 2.6% temporal and 14.7% both (only in right eyes). Although 96.2% of the subjects usually wore hats, less than 10% of subjects wore glasses or sunglasses when outdoors.

Conclusions:: Pterygium was seen in more than 70% of farmers aged over 50yrs living in a tropical area of China. A long time spent outdoors in high ambient UV may have caused this high prevalence. These results show that wearing a hat without glasses does not offer enough protection for eyes from UV. A campaign to enlighten people to the danger of UV and the need to protect their eyes is important.

Keywords: Pterygium • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment 
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