Impact of pterygium on the ocular surface and meibomian glands

Author(s)

Viana Wanzeler, Ana Claudia ^[1] ; Franca Barbosa, Italo Antunes ^[1] ; Duarte, Bruna ^{[1, 2]} ; Barbosa, Eduardo Buzolin ^[1] ; Borges, Daniel Almeida ^[1] ; Alves, Monica ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Fac Med Sci, Dept Ophthalmol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Pontif Catholic Univ Campinas PUCCAMP, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 14, n. 9 SEP 12 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Purpose To analyze how ocular surface parameters correlate to presence of pterygium and investigate the possible impact of pterygia on tear film findings and meibomian glands findings. Methods We investigated objective parameters of the ocular surface such as conjunctival hyperemia, tear film stability and volume, meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye disease, corneal topography comparing healthy individuals and correlating with the pterygium clinical presentation. Results A total of 83 patients were included. Corneal astigmatism induction was 2.65 +/- 2.52 D (0.4-11.8). The impact of pterygium on the ocular surface parameters compared to matched controls was seen in: conjunctival hyperemia (control 1.55 +/- 0.39/pterygium 2.14 +/- 0.69; p = 0.0001), tear meniscus height (control 0.24 +/- 0.05 mm/pterygium 0.36 +/- 0.14mm; p 0.0002), meiboscore lower eyelid (control 0.29 +/- 0.64/pterygium 1.38 +/- 0.95; p 0.0001) and meiboscore upper eyelid (control 0.53 +/- 0.62/pterygium 0.98 +/- 0.75; p = 0.0083). We found a high number of pterygium patients (88%) presented meibomian gland alterations. Interestingly, meibomian gland loss was coincident to the localization of the pterygium in 54% of the upper and 77% lower lids. Conclusion Pterygium greatly impacts on ocular surface by inducing direct alterations in the pattern of meibomian glands besides corneal irregularities, conjunctival hyperemia and lacrimal film alterations, inducing significant symptoms and potential signs of dysfunction. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/19138-5 - Ocular tissue biobank implementation and investigation of new pathophysiological mechanisms of anterior segment eye diseases
• Grantee: Mônica de Cássia Alves
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants