title: Analysis of the pterygium size inducing marked refractive astigmatism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Astigmatic changes induced by the pterygium and their relation to its size and morphology were analysed to establish the critical size for surgery before significant astigmatism occurs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the refraction in 148 eyes of 108 adult patients with primary pterygia. We grouped the astigmatic values according to the keratometric results correlating with the maximal length, width and the approximate total area of the pterigium encroaching on the corneal surface.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pterygia with length or width > or = 3.00 mm were related to significantly higher astigmatism than other groups (p<0.01). The effect of the pterygium morphology on corneal astigmatism was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pterygia exceeding 3.00 mm of length or width should be considered within the limits of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. nihal@unimedya.net.tr
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaderli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Durak
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cingil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014792:Visual Acuity