We investigated relationships between outdoor air pollution and
pterygium in Korean adults. This study includes 23,276 adults in population-based cross-sectional data using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2011.
Pterygium was assessed using
slit lamp biomicroscopy. Air pollution data (humidity,
particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm [PM₁₀],
ozone [O₃],
nitrogen dioxide [NO₂], and
sulfur dioxide levels [SO₂]) for 2 years preceding the ocular examinations were acquired. Associations of multiple
air pollutants with
pterygium or
pterygium recurrence after surgery were examined using multivariate logistic models, after adjusting for several covariates. Distributed lag models were additionally used for estimating cumulative effects of air pollution on
pterygium. None of air pollution factors was significantly associated with
pterygium or
pterygium recurrence (each P > 0.05). Distributed lag models also showed that air pollution factors were not associated with
pterygium or
pterygium recurrence in 0-to-2 year lags (each P > 0.05). However, primary
pterygium showed a weak association with PM10 after adjusting for covariates (odds ratio [OR] 1.23; [per 5 μg/m³ PM₁₀ increase]; P = 0.023). Aging, male sex, and greater sun exposure were associated with
pterygium, while higher education level and
myopia were negatively associated with
pterygium (each P ≤ 0.001). Male sex and
myopia were negatively associated with
pterygium recurrence (each P < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to higher PM10 levels was associated with primary
pterygium, although this study observed no significant association between air pollution and overall
pterygium or
pterygium recurrence in Korean adults.