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A case–control study of visual acuity in onychocryptosis
Author(s) -
Hogan Aisling M.,
Broe David,
Stunnell Helen,
Bobart Andra,
Ridgway Paul F.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.04161.x
Subject(s) - medicine , visual acuity , etiology , prospective cohort study , cohort , population , significant difference , mann–whitney u test , cohort study , surgery , optometry , ophthalmology , environmental health
Abstract Background There are many theories surrounding the etiology of ingrown toenails (IGTN). Few factors have been formally assessed, but it is widely accepted that a poor nail cutting technique has a causative role. Aim To investigate the hypothesis that decreased visual acuity may lead to inadequate nail cutting and the formation of IGTN. Methods A prospective case–control study was performed. Near and distance visual acuity were tested on a population with IGTN ( n = 19) and compared with that of an age‐ and sex‐matched control cohort ( n = 24) who underwent epidermal cyst excision in the same tertiary referral center. Comparisons of visual acuity were made between groups by Mann–Whitney U ‐test. Differences were taken to be significant if P < 0.05. Institutional Review Board approval was sought and granted. Results No significant difference in visual acuity (near or distance) was demonstrated between patients with IGTN and the control group ( P = 0.33). Conclusion Visual acuity does not appear to play a significant role in the development of IGTN.