Pterygium in Indonesia: prevalence, severity and risk factors

• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.86.12.1341
• Publication Date: 2002-11-22T01:22:05Z
• Authors: G Gazzard
• Keywords: Pterygium

<b>Aim:</b> To determine prevalence rates, severity, and risk factors for pterygium in adults provincial Indonesia to validate a clinical grading scheme population based setting. <b>Methods:</b> A survey of 1210 aged 21 years above was conducted five rural villages one town Riau province, Sumatra, Indonesia, an area near the equator. stage household cluster sampling procedure employed: 100 households were randomly selected from each village or town. Pterygia graded severity (T1 T3, by visibility episcleral vessels) basal apical extent measured ophthalmologist (GG) with hand held slit lamp. Refraction autorefractor (Retinomax). Face face interviews assessed outdoor activity, occupation, smoking. The participation rate 96.7%. <b>Results:</b> mean age 36.6 (SD 13.1), 612 male. adjusted any 10.0% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 8.2 11.7) bilateral pterygia 4.1% CI 2.9 5.3). There significant dose-response relation (2.9% 0.4 5.8) 21–29 versus 17.3% 10.4 24.2) 50 above; p trend &lt;0.001) occupations more time outdoors (p = 0.02). This true both sexes, all grades lesion T3), disease. multivariate logistic regression model showed independently related increasing activity 10 earlier. diameter 3.3 mm 1.51, range 0.1–9.5) limbus 1.4 1.18, 0.1–8.0). Higher grade larger &lt;0.001). presence associated astigmatism (defined as cylinder at least −0.5 dioptres (D); association increased Median those (−0.50 D) greater than without (−0.25D), &lt;0.001), higher For eyes pterygia, magnitude greatest limbus, 0.03), but not width 0.99). <b>Conclusions:</b> is high Sumatra. independent increase past (a surrogate sun exposure) consistent previous findings. Clinical morphology opacity useful additional marker severity.