AIM:To investigate the distribution characteristics of pterygium in the urban and rural areas of Wuhan.METHODS:Using cluster random sampling method,a total number of 16818 people of the urban and rural areas of Wuhan were selected and the incidence of prevalence was statistically analyzed.RESULTS:The total prevalence of pterygium was 3.853% in the urban and rural areas of Wuhan,the prevalence in male population was 2.965% and the female was 4.555%.In the urban region,the prevalence of pterygium was 2.951%,the prevalence of the male was 2.212% and that of female was 3.532%.In the rural areas of Wuhan,the prevalence was found to be 5.534%,and in the male and female population,the incidence was 3.792% and 6.931% respectively.The prevalence of pterygium among female population was higher than that of the male population,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of pterygium in Wuhan is 3.853%,in the urban region it is 2.951% and the rural region is 5.534%.And the prevalence of the female population is higher than the male.