Risk factors for the development of pterygium in Singapore: A hospital-based case-control study

Purpose: A hospital-based case-control study, designed to evaluate the risk factors for the development of pterygium in Singapore. Methods: Sixty-one cases and 125 controls were interviewed at the Singapore National Eye Centre, Information on present and past (5 and 10 years ago) exposure to sunlight on weekdays and weekends, sociodemographic data, behav ior Lifestyle and family history of eye disease was collected. Results: Patients with pterygia were mostly maleg smoked and drank alcohol more often, had lower combined family incomes and were more likely to have a family history of eye disease. The adjusted odds ratios for the developme nt of pterygia were 1.27 (95 percent confidence interval 1.06 to 1.54) and 1.31 (95 percent confidence interval 1.09 to 1.57) for participants who had spent more time in the sun five and ten years ago respectively. Conclusions: Pterygium is an important public health problem in Singapore a nd its development is related to the amount of sunlight exposure.