Corneal topographic changes induced by pterygia.
BACKGROUND
This study characterizes the topographic changes induced by pterygia.


METHODS
Using data obtained from a videokeratoscope (TMS-1), we assessed the topographic changes of corneas from 24 consecutive eyes with pterygia.


RESULTS
Each pterygium induced a localized area of flattening central to its apex of 38.00 +/- 2.80 diopter (D) which was significantly flatter (p < .0001) than the mean corneal power (43.70 +/- 1.70), minimum corneal power (MinK, 42.70 +/- 2.10), and the power of the flattest corneal meridian (42.90 +/- 1.90).


CONCLUSIONS
Our topographic findings characterize an area of localized corneal flattening central to the apex of pterygia. It is not known if this pterygium-associated corneal flattening influences the centripetal growth of pterygia or their tendency not to cross the visual axis.
Pavilack
M A
MA
Department of Ophthalmology, St Joseph Hospital, Lancaster, PA, USA.
Halpern
B L
BL
D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011625:Pterygium / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology