Risk factors for the development of pterygium in Singapore: a hospital-based case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
A hospital-based case-control study, designed to evaluate the risk factors for the development of pterygium in Singapore.


METHODS
Sixty-one cases and 125 controls were interviewed at the Singapore National Eye Centre. Information on present and past (5 and 10 years ago) exposure to sunlight on weekdays and weekends, sociodemographic data, behavior lifestyle and family history of eye disease was collected.


RESULTS
Patients with pterygia were mostly males, smoked and drank alcohol more often, had lower combined family incomes and were more likely to have a family history of eye disease. The adjusted odds ratios for the development of pterygia were 1.27 (95 percent confidence interval 1.06 to 1.54) and 1.31 (95 percent confidence interval 1.09 to 1.57) for participants who had spent more time in the sun five and ten years ago respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Pterygium is an important public health problem in Singapore and its development is related to the amount of sunlight exposure.
Saw
S M
SM
Department of Community, Occupational & Family Medicine, National University of Singapore. cofsawsm@nus.edu.sg
Banerjee
K
K
Tan
D
D
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011625:Pterygium / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology