Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health
Volume 61, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 27-32

Pterygium among latino migrant farmworkers in North Carolina (Article)

Taylor S.L. , Coates M.L. , Vallejos Q. , Feldman S.R. , Schulz M.R. , Quandt S.A. , Fleischer A.B. , Arcury T.A.
  • a Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • b Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • e Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, United States
  • f Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, United States
  • g Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • h Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

The authors describe the prevalence and severity of pterygium among Latino migrant farmworkers in North Carolina and delineate its risk factors. They selected a sample of 304 farmworkers working in eastern North Carolina in 2005. Digital photographs were taken of each farmworker, including a facial view showing the eyes. Two physicians independently rated each farmworker for the presence and severity of pterygia, with an initial intercoder agreement of 91%. Sixty-eight (23.3%) participants had a pterygium in at least 1 eye; 28 (9.5%) had bilateral pterygia. Age was significantly associated with pterygia (odds ratio = 1.07; 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.11). Research on the causes of pterygium among farmworkers is needed. In the interim, improvements in farmworkers' preventive behaviors, such as wearing ultraviolet protective lenses and brimmed hats, are reasonable and inexpensive measures. © 2007 Heldref Publications.

Author Keywords

Pterygium Ocular effects Farmworkers Ultraviolet exposure

Index Keywords

eye photography Confidence interval major clinical study priority journal risk factor disease severity adult physician pterygium migrant worker prevalence disease association Article agricultural worker United States human risk assessment Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34247617270&doi=10.3200%2fAEOH.61.1.27-32&partnerID=40&md5=57763f982b5a3bac4f137ff78197635c
DOI: 10.3200/AEOH.61.1.27-32
ISSN: 19338244
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English