Ocular surface change of primary pterygium with OCULUS keratograph

Objective

To study the correlation between pterygium area and the clinical manifestation and signs of primary pterygium obtained from OCULUS Keratograph.

Methods

A prospective case observation study was performed.Thirty-nine (55 eyes) primary pterygium patients were selected from June to September 2016 in Zhongshan People’s Hospital.The area of the pterygium invaded cornea and duration of pterygium were recorded.The ocular surface condition was detected by corneal fluorescein staining.The break up time of tear film (BUT) and the gland function score were measured with OCULUS Keratograph.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan People’s Hospital(2015[13]). All operations followed the Helsinki Declaration and all patients signed informed consent forms.

Results

The areas of pterygium invaded cornea was 2-20 mm², the mean size was 5(3, 10)mm²; the duration of pterygium was 3-8 years, the mean duration was 5(4, 6)years; the BUT was 2.1-15.0 seconds, the mean BUT was (6.3±3.0) seconds.The mean gland function score was 2(1, 3). The area of pterygium was not significantly correlated with the duration of pteryguim (r=0.197, P=0.148), while it was negatively correlated with BUT (r=-0.711, P<0.001 ) and positively correlated with the tarsal gland score (r=0.554, P<0.001). What’s more, 82% (45/55 eyes) of the patients’ tear film rupture appeared firstly near pterygium’s head.

Conclusion

OCULUS Keratograph can directly evaluate the ocular surface condition of pterygium patients in a non-contact and non-invasive method.Assessing the ocular surface damage by observing the area of pterygium invaded cornea may provide a prospective treatment for pterygium patients.