title: Pterygium and ultraviolet radiation: a positive correlation.
abstract: Pterygium has long been believed to be an environmental disease, Ultraviolet (UV) radiation playing a major role in its development. In examination of more than 100 000 Aborigines and non-Aborigines in rural Australia a strong positive correlation between climatic UV radiation and pterygium prevalence was found, providing further evidence of a causal relationship. In addition interesting differences were found in prevalence in the different racial groups and between the sexes. These differences may be explained by differences in lifestyle.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples