Charlotte M McKnight1, Justin C Sherwin2, Seyhan Yazar1, Hannah Forward1, Alex X Tan1, Alex W Hewitt1,2, Elliot Smith1, David Turton1, Pippa Byrd1, Craig E Pennell3,4, Minas T Coroneo5, David A Mackey1. 1. Lions Eye Institute, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 2. Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 3. Telethon Kids Institute, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 4. School of Women's and Infants' Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sun exposure is associated with several ophthalmic diseases, including pterygium which may develop in adolescence. This study reports the prevalence of pterygium and its associations in a large cohort of young Australian adults. Conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence, a biomarker of ocular sun exposure, has recently been characterized in some Australian populations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand three hundred forty-four subjects aged 18-22 years in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. METHODS: Standardized colour and ultraviolet autofluorescence photographs of the nasal and temporal conjunctiva were taken, and assessed for presence of pterygium and area of autofluorescence. Sun exposure and protective factors were assessed by structured questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Area of conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence in square millimetre (mm(2)) and presence of pterygium. RESULTS: Median total conjunctival autofluorescence was 44.2 mm(2) (interquartile range 20.2-69.8 mm(2)). Median conjunctival autofluorescence was higher in nasal than in temporal quadrants (23.8 mm(2) vs. 18.9 mm(2), P < 0.001), but did not differ according to age or gender. Higher body mass index was associated with lower levels of autofluorescence. Total autofluorescence increased with increasing time spent outdoors. Prevalence of pterygium was 1.2% (95% confidence interval 0.6-1.8%), and was associated with male gender (odds ratio 6.71, P = 0.012). Participants with pterygium had significantly more conjunctival autofluorescence than those without (median 73.4 mm(2) vs. 44.0 mm(2), P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence is associated with increased time spent outdoors, and increased prevalence of pterygium. The association of this biomarker with other ophthalmohelioses, including cataract, ocular surface squamous neoplasia and eyelid malignancy, has yet to be determined.
BACKGROUND: Sun exposure is associated with several ophthalmic diseases, including pterygium which may develop in adolescence. This study reports the prevalence of pterygium and its associations in a large cohort of young Australian adults. Conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence, a biomarker of ocular sun exposure, has recently been characterized in some Australian populations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand three hundred forty-four subjects aged 18-22 years in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. METHODS: Standardized colour and ultraviolet autofluorescence photographs of the nasal and temporal conjunctiva were taken, and assessed for presence of pterygium and area of autofluorescence. Sun exposure and protective factors were assessed by structured questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Area of conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence in square millimetre (mm(2)) and presence of pterygium. RESULTS: Median total conjunctival autofluorescence was 44.2 mm(2) (interquartile range 20.2-69.8 mm(2)). Median conjunctival autofluorescence was higher in nasal than in temporal quadrants (23.8 mm(2) vs. 18.9 mm(2), P < 0.001), but did not differ according to age or gender. Higher body mass index was associated with lower levels of autofluorescence. Total autofluorescence increased with increasing time spent outdoors. Prevalence of pterygium was 1.2% (95% confidence interval 0.6-1.8%), and was associated with male gender (odds ratio 6.71, P = 0.012). Participants with pterygium had significantly more conjunctival autofluorescence than those without (median 73.4 mm(2) vs. 44.0 mm(2), P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence is associated with increased time spent outdoors, and increased prevalence of pterygium. The association of this biomarker with other ophthalmohelioses, including cataract, ocular surface squamous neoplasia and eyelid malignancy, has yet to be determined.
Authors: Leon Straker; Jenny Mountain; Angela Jacques; Scott White; Anne Smith; Louis Landau; Fiona Stanley; John Newnham; Craig Pennell; Peter Eastwood Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2017-10-01 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Emily Huynh; Danuta M Bukowska; Seyhan Yazar; Charlotte M McKnight; Ajmal Mian; David A Mackey Journal: J Med Imaging (Bellingham) Date: 2016-08-05
Authors: Gareth Lingham; Seyhan Yazar; Robyn M Lucas; Elizabeth Milne; Alex W Hewitt; Christopher J Hammond; Stuart MacGregor; Kathryn A Rose; Fred K Chen; Mingguang He; Jeremy A Guggenheim; Michael W Clarke; Seang-Mei Saw; Cathy Williams; Minas T Coroneo; Leon Straker; David A Mackey Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-03-18 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Samantha Sze-Yee Lee; Darren John Beales; Fred K Chen; Seyhan Yazar; David Alonso-Caneiro; David A Mackey Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-03-17 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Samantha Sze-Yee Lee; Gareth Lingham; Seyhan Yazar; Paul G Sanfilippo; Jason Charng; Fred K Chen; Alex W Hewitt; Fletcher Ng; Christopher Hammond; Leon M Straker; Peter R Eastwood; Stuart MacGregor; Kathryn A Rose; Robyn M Lucas; Jeremy A Guggenheim; Seang-Mei Saw; Minas T Coroneo; Mingguang He; David A Mackey Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-03-25 Impact factor: 2.692