Ocular surface degenerative diseases studies in an isolated region of Argentine Patagonia

SUAREZ MARÍA F; CRIM, NICOLAS; LEANDRO CORREA; JUAN PABLO MACCIO,; ERNA G. KNOLL; PIQUERAS CARMEN; BHATTACHARYA SK; SERRA HORACIO M

New Frontiers in Ophthalmology

OAT

Año: 2019

im: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Environmental proteinaceous corneal degeneration (EPCD), pinguecula andpterygium and any association among them, and to perform lipidomic studies in some samples of EPCD and pterygium.Materials and methods: It was a transversal/observational and analytical study; the sample was consecutive non-probabilistic. All patients examinedresided all their lives in the department El Cuy (Río Negro). Corneal epithelium and conjunctiva tissue samples were taken to perform massspectrometric lipidomic studies.Results: One hundred and fifty-nine patients were studied (52.83% male and 47.17% female). The prevalence of ophthalmoheliosis was: pinguecula32.1%, EPCD 28.9%, and pterygium 13.2%. A statistically significant association was found between EPCD and male patients (21.4% vs 7.5%)(p <0.05). There was association between EPCD with pinguecula and with pterygium, both more frequent in males (p