Pterygium in Ibadan

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Ocular Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Pterygium is a common ocular condition, particularly in regions like Southwestern Nigeria.
• It represents a significant portion of new eye clinic cases and planned ocular surgeries.
• Outdoor workers are disproportionately affected.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical presentations of pterygium.
• To evaluate the surgical outcomes and recurrence rates.
• To identify risk factors and suggest improvements in management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 500 eyes from 400 patients over three years.
• Analysis of clinical presentations, patient demographics, and surgical outcomes.
• Review of the 'Bare Sclera' surgical technique and recurrence data.

Main Results:

• Pterygium was a common condition, accounting for 9% of new eye clinic cases.
• Large, fleshy nasal pterygia were most common (80%).
• The 'Bare Sclera' method resulted in a 40% recurrence rate.

Conclusions:

• The 'Bare Sclera' surgical method has a high recurrence rate for pterygium.
• Modifications to surgical techniques and adjunctive treatments like Beta (B) irradiation are needed.
• Further research should focus on reducing pterygium recurrence in this population.