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Cross-sectionalClinical & experimental ophthalmology · 2026

Are Ocular Markers of Sun Exposure Associated With Skin Cancer? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study.

Gareth Lingham, Vinay Kumar Nilagiri, Holly Brown … David A Mackey

OphthalmologyCross-sectional

Prior surgical removal of pterygium linked to higher odds of keratinocyte skin cancer.

Are Ocular Markers of Sun Exposure Associated With Skin Cancer? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study.

Gareth Lingham … David A Mackey

Clinical & experimental ophthalmology · 2026

Background

Higher past sun or ultraviolet radiation exposure increases the risk of skin

Purpose

We investigated whether ocular markers of past sun exposure are associated with a history of skin cancer.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of participants who attended the Phase 2 examination of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study in Western Australia (2016-2022).

n = 3888 participants

Results

having pterygium surgery in the past was tied to nearly double the odds of skin cancer

OR 1.85 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.82)

null 1

1.21

2.82

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

pterygium, conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence) and myopia.

Of 3888 participants who attended, 3829 (98.5%) had skin cancer history data (mean [standard deviation] age 64.2 [5.4] years).

More results

A history of keratinocyte cancer was present in 795 (20.8%) participants and cutaneous melanoma in 59 (1.5%) participants.

Neither conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence or myopia was associated with keratinocyte cancer or melanoma diagnoses.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Having a current pterygium or previous pterygium excision is associated with a diagnosis of keratinocyte skin cancer.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

While causality cannot be determined, the association may reflect shared risk factors such as chronic ultraviolet radiation exposure, and people with a pterygium should be advised that they are at higher risk of skin cancer.

Post

Are Ocular Markers of Sun Exposure Associated With Skin Cancer? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study.

Prior surgical removal of pterygium linked to higher odds of keratinocyte skin cancer.

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