Prevalence of pterygium in indigenous Australians within central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study

Prevalence of pterygium in indigenous Australians within central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study

Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology

  • Author(s): Landers, J., Henderson, T., Craig, J.
  • Published: 2011
  • Volume: 39
  • ISBN: 1442-9071 (Electronic) 1442-6404 (Linking)

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Abstract: BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence of pterygium within the indigenous Australian population living in central Australia. DESIGN: Clinic-based cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1884 individuals living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of 'Central Australia'. This equated to 36% of those aged >/=20 years and 67% of those aged >/=40 years within this district. METHODS: PARTICIPANTS aged 20 years or over were recruited as they presented to the eye clinic at each remote community. Slit-lamp examination was performed, and the presence of a pterygium or evidence of previous pterygium surgery was recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of a pterygium in one or both eyes is presented. RESULTS: Pterygium was present in one or both eyes of 9.3% of individuals aged 40 years or older. Right and left eyes were affected equally (chi(2) = 0.19; P = 0.91). There was a significant association between the presence of a pterygium and age (t = 3.99; P < 0.0001). There was no association with gender (chi(2) = 1.06; P = 0.30). CONCLUSION: Pterygium was present in a significantly higher proportion of indigenous Australians compared with non-indigenous Australians. This is similar to previous findings of the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program and may be due to a difference in proportion of hours spent outdoors and consequent exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

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