title: Pterygium and dry eye.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the correlation between dry eye and pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tear breakup time (BUT), Schirmer test with/without anesthesia and tear function index were evaluated in both eyes of patients with unilateral pterygium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tear BUT, was shortened significantly in the eye with pterygium. The Schirmer test with anesthesia was shortened and the tear function index was decreased in the eye with pterygium with marginal significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a correlation between pterygium formation and shortened BUT. Unstable tear film may contribute to the initiation of pterygium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan. misaki@ryogoku.or.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishioka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimmura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubota
mesh_terms: D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology