Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine incidence rate for pterygium in adult population in Amazon River watershed.
Methods: :
An incidence survey of 231 individuals, who came for general health check–up in a Prefecture Health Project. This study was conducted in five rural villages located in the watershed of Amazon River, Brazil (Vila Bom Sucesso, Comunidade Nossa Senhora do Carmo 1 and 2, Arumã, Comunidade São Francisco) using a portable slit lamp for ophthalmologic examination. Among 231 patients were divided by age into 2 groups: Group 1 (n=88)(under 20 years old) and Group 2 (n=143)(older than 20 years old).
Results: :
There were 80 males and 151 females, and all of them were Brazilian. The mean age was 26.5 years (SD 17.6). Among 88 patients (38.10%) of Group 1, two individuals (2,27%) were affected with unilateral pterygium. Among 143 patients (61.90%) of Group 2, 77 individuals (53.85%) were affected with pterygium, which 43 individuals (30.10%) were affected with bilateral pterygium
Conclusions: :
There is higher incidence rate of pterygium in communities located in Amazon River watershed compared to the other studies.
Keywords: Pterygium • cornea: epithelium