Pterygium after hyperopic laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK).

Abstract

A 61-year-old Caucasian woman with hyperopia presented for laser refractive surgery. She had healthy eyes with the exception of a less than 0.5 mm Salzmann's nodule at 5 o'clock near the limbus of the right eye. She underwent bilateral hyperopic laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) combined with removal of the Salzmann's nodule. At six months, she was emmetropic with unaided vision of 6/6; however, at 10 months, she noticed a reduction of acuity in her right eye and was found to have a pterygium at 5 o'clock, encroaching 3.5 mm onto the corneal surface. She underwent excision biopsy, local application of mitomycin-C (0.2 mg/ml for two minutes) and conjunctival auto-grafting. Following surgery for the pterygium, vision returned to 6/6 unaided but six months later, there was limited recurrence (1.5 mm) of the pterygium reducing unaided vision to 6/9, due to the induction of astigmatism of -1.25 dioptres. This has remained stable for 14 months. Pterygium growth may be associated with surface excimer laser surgery and the presence of peripheral Salzmann's nodules might be a risk factor.

• Authors: David P S O'Brart, Katherine Williams
• Journal: Clinical & experimental optometry (Clin Exp Optom) Vol. 96 Issue 3 Pg. 336-8 (May 2013) ISSN: 1444-0938 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22775539 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 The Authors; Clinical and Experimental Optometry © 2012 Optometrists Association Australia.

Topics

• Female
• Humans
• Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted (adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Pterygium (etiology)