Relationships of heredity and dry eye with pterygia in black African patients

Abstract

Little is known about hereditary influence in pterygium occurrence in black Africans. We prospectively interviewed 71 cases and 71 controls on family history. Tear film stability was assessed.
36% of the cases and 10% of the controls had positive history (OR 4.5, p<0.05 chi square test). 7% of the cases and 17% of the controls had poor tear film (OR 0.24, p<0.05 chi square test). A positive family history was associated with pterygium occurrence. Dry eye was not associated with pterygia.