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

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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.