Study on tear function abnormality in pterygium.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is any abnormality in the tear function in patients with pterygium. Eighty-four patients with pterygia (56 with unilateral and 28 with bilateral involvement) and 45 healthy controls were entered in the study. Schirmer's test, breakup time test and mucus fern test were applied to both eyes of the subjects. This was a prospective, comparative and interventional study. Tear function test results between the eyes with pterygium and controls were compared. They were similar in the eyes with or without pterygium. There were no tear function abnormalities in pterygium. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel