Pterygium in Onitsha, Nigeria.
Objective
To determine the pattern and risk factors of pterygium in adults at the Guinness Eye Centre Onitsha, Nigeria.


Materials and Methods
Consecutive adults aged ≥30 years with pterygium were studied. Each patient had comprehensive ocular examination including visual acuity, anterior segment, and adnexal assessment and fundoscopy. The pterygium was graded in terms of severity and type.


Results
A total of 156 patients with pterygium participated; 92 (59%) females versus 64 (41%) males (F:M =3:2). The age range was 30-65 years; mean: 43.9 ± 8.4 years. The majority of the study population (36.5%) was of the age group 40-49 years. The subjects were predominately traders 78 (50%) and 93 (59.6%) of the pterygium patients were outdoor workers. Bivariate analysis indicated that those involved in outdoor work were six times at greater risk of developing pterygium than indoor workers (P = 0.001; OR = 6.2). Out of the 156 pterygium patients seen, 107 (68.6%) of them complained of associated symptoms. Redness of the eye was the commonest symptom reported by 79 (50.9%) cases while 8 (5.1%) cases complained of burning sensation. There was a preponderance of nasal pterygia with temporal pterygia being the least. Blinding pterygium was seen in three eyes (1.3%).


Conclusion
Pterygium is a common disorder presenting at eye clinics. Outdoor workers are at a greater risk of developing pterygium. Thus, health education is of great importance.
['Uba-Obiano|C U|CU|', 'N Nwosu|S N|SN|', 'Okpala|N E|NE|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D003228:Conjunctiva D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009549:Nigeria D011625:Pterygium D012307:Risk Factors D014792:Visual Acuity
pterygium pattern risk factors symptoms presentation Location