Pterygium in Lima, Peru

Annals of Ophthalmology
|April 1, 1986
PubMed

Insights

Pterygium, a common eye condition, affects over 30% of patients in Lima, Peru. Its prevalence significantly increases with age, but not with sex or occupation.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pterygium is a common ocular surface condition.
  • Understanding its prevalence is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of pterygium in Lima, Peru.
  • To investigate the association of pterygium with age, sex, and occupation.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was conducted on 367 patients across four hospitals in Lima, Peru.
  • Random proportional sampling was utilized.
  • Data on age, sex, and occupation were collected.

Main Results:

  • An overall pterygium prevalence of 31.06% was observed.
  • Prevalence significantly increased with advancing age.
  • No statistically significant differences were found regarding sex or occupation.

Conclusions:

  • Age is a significant risk factor for pterygium.
  • While trends suggested higher incidence in males and outdoor workers, these were not statistically significant in this study population.

Related Concept Videos