title: Effect of pterygium excision on induced corneal topographic abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of successful pterygium surgery on astigmatism and other corneal topographic indices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative and postoperative refraction and corneal-topography analysis were performed on 16 consecutive eyes of 12 patients who underwent successful pterygium surgery, with statistical comparison of the pre- and postoperative visual acuity, refractive astigmatism, topographic astigmatism, Surface-Regularity Index, and Surface-Asymmetry Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful pterygium surgery caused statistically significant improvements in visual acuity, refractive and topographic astigmatism, the Surface-Regularity Index, and the surface asymmetry index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corneal-topography analysis is an important component of the evaluation of patients with pterygium, revealing significant abnormalities that are improved by successful removal of the pterygium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0284, USA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011625:Pterygium / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology