The science of pterygia

Abstract

Pterygium is an ocular surface disease of humans attributed to chronic ultraviolet-B exposure. Clinically, the condition involves invasive centripetal growth with associated inflammation and neovascularisation. Previous clinical studies focused primarily on the clinical characteristics and surgical management of pterygia and, because of this, the pathogenesis of pterygia remains incompletely understood. However, considerable progress in this area has been achieved, providing additional insight into this complex disease. This recent evidence implicates antiapoptotic mechanisms, immunological mechanisms, cytokines, growth factors, extracellular matrix modulators, genetic factors, viral infections and other possible causative factors. Limited investigation regarding differences in pathogenesis of primary and recurrent pterygia has been performed. We summarise many of these recent discoveries concerning the pathogenesis of pterygia and describe reported differences between primary and recurrent pterygia.

Visual acuity in fish consumers of the Brazilian Amazon: risks and benefits from local diet

“…This procedure provided information on ocular pathologies for post hoc exclusion. The presence of pterygia, a corneal eye disease attributed to chronic UV-B exposure (33,34) , common in this region, was noted by the examiners.…”

Comparison of Pre and Post Operative Corneal Astigmatism following Pterygium Excision and Conjunctival Autograft

“…Recent evidence suggests that it is a proliferative condition. It results in encroachment of this tissue over the cornea, thus, resulting in significant amount of induced corneal astigmatism (2) . Pterygium is located within the inter-palpebral area.…”

Pterygium Excision with Autologous Blood Autograft Fixation: Experience of a District Hospital of Bangladesh

“…An overall view of the growth process reveals a multiplicity of factors that are correlated and interrelated 1 . Recent evidence implicates anti-apoptotic mechanisms, immunological mechanisms, cytokines, growth factors, extracellular matrix modulators, genetic factors and viral infections, among other possible causative factors 2,3 . The prevalence rates vary widely (from 2% to 29%) 4 , but generally they are higher in the tropics than at temperate latitudes 5,6 .…”