title: [Pay attention to basic and clinical research of pterygium].
abstract: Pterygium is one of the most common ocular surface diseases. The pathogenesis of pterygium is unclear, and a guideline for drug therapy and surgical treatment has not been established up to now. Ultraviolet light is the most important etiologic factor of pterygium. Destruction of the limbal epithelium barrier is the most important mechanism of pterygium. The most important histopathogenesis of pterygium is degeneration and proliferation of conjunctiva. This article attempts to sketch the mechanism of pterygium and propose several questions for further investigation, and recommends excision of pterygium combined with conjunctival autograft or amniotic membrane graft or limbal conjunctival autograft as the primary surgical procedure. The study of the pathogenesis and clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of pterygium should be emphasized in order to reduce the occurrence and recurrence of pterygium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. mingchangzhang@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ming-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence