DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.090

Pages: 1477-1482

Pterygium is one of the common problems in ophthalmology among the elderly and the middle age group in both sexes. Pterygium or Surfer’s Eye most often refers to a benign growth of the conjunctiva. It is a wing shaped conjunctival encroachment onto the cornea which is generally situated on the nasal side. It has been found to be associated with and thought to be caused by ultraviolet light exposure, low humidity and dust. In this study 40 eyes of 40 patients were operated and the changes in astigmatism were noticed. 20 eyes underwent pterygium excision with conventional conjunctival graft and in 20 eyes amniotic membrane graft was used. The patients were kept on follow up for 3 months duration. At the end of follow up, it was found that pterygium excision with amniotic membrane graft was associated with less astigmatism when compared to conventional conjunctival graft. Pterygium may cause flattening of the cornea to the leading apex. An induced astigmatism was explained by several mechanisms: Pooling of the tear film at the leading edge of the pterygium and mechanical traction exerted by the pterygium on the cornea. Pterygium cause mechanical traction on the cornea leading to astigmatism. Surgical removal of the pterygium improves the astigmatism.