Clinical Study
Eye (2009) 23, 1125–1129; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.200; published online 4 July 2008
Prevalence and risk factors of pterygium and pinguecula: the Tehran Eye Study
Competing interests: None
A Fotouhi1, H Hashemi2,3, M Khabazkhoob1,2 and K Mohammad1
- 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
- 2Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
- 3Farabi Eye Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Correspondence: A Fotouhi, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14155-6446, Iran. Tel: +98 21 88987381; Fax: +98 21 88987382; E-mail: afotouhi@tums.ac.ir
Received 10 February 2008; Accepted 2 June 2008; Published online 4 July 2008.
Abstract
Purpose
To determine the prevalence and causes of pterygium and pinguecula in the population of Tehran in 2002.
Methods
In a cross-sectional population study with cluster sampling, 6497 residents of Tehran were selected from 160 clusters. Samples were chosen according to a door-to-door head counting and were then invited for free examinations. After the interview, ophthalmic examinations were performed at an eye clinic.
Results
Of the selected sample, 4564 people (70.3%) participated in the study. The age- and gender-standardized prevalence of pterygium in this population was 1.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9–1.6%). The prevalence of pterygium was 1.4 and 1.1% in men and women, respectively (P>0.05). The prevalence of pinguecula in this study was 22.5% (95% CI: 21.1–24.0%); 27.1% in men and 17.7% in women (P<0.001). In both genders, the prevalence of pterygium and pinguecula showed a significant increase with age (P<0.001).
Conclusions
This study concerns the status of pterygium and pinguecula according to age and gender in the population of Tehran. The overall prevalence rates were 1.3 and 22.5% for pterygium and pinguecula, respectively. The comparison of the results with those reported from other areas of the world suggests lower prevalence rates in Tehran.
Keywords:
pterygium, pinguecula, cross-sectional study, Tehran
