Prevalence and characteristics of choroidal nevi in an Asian vs white population.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence and characteristics of choroidal nevi in an Asian population and compare this with findings from a white population.


METHODS
The Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES) examined a population-based, cross-sectional, age-stratified, random sample of 3280 Malay persons (78.7% participation rate) aged 40 to 80 years living in Singapore. Comprehensive examination of participants included bilateral retinal photography. Choroidal nevi were graded from photographs using the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) protocol.


RESULTS
The person-specific prevalence of choroidal nevi was 1.4%, with 50 nevi found in 45 participants. This is lower than the 6.5% prevalence seen in white persons in the BMES. However, characteristics of nevi in Malay persons in the SiMES were similar to those of white persons in the BMES by size (SiMES, 1.27 mm; BMES, 1.25 mm; P = .35), shape (P = .58), color (P = .39), location within posterior pole or periphery (P = .30), and nevus margin proximity to the optic disc (P = .29). Features previously identified as indicating growth or malignant potential (including diameter >6 mm, posterior margin touching optic disc, orange pigment, pigment clumping, and retinal edema) were not found in this sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Choroidal nevi were detected in 1.4% of Malay persons. There were no significant racial or ethnic differences in nevi characteristics between Malay and white persons.
Ng
Ching Hui
CH
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Wang
Jie Jin
JJ
Mitchell
Paul
P
Amirul Islam
F M
FM
Wong
Tien Y
TY
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D002830:Choroid Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*