Diffuse keratoconjunctival proliferation: a novel clinical manifestation.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Ocular Pathology

Background:

• A previously unrecognized benign condition affecting the conjunctiva and cornea has been identified.
• This widespread proliferative disorder has the potential to impair vision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel benign bilateral conjunctival and corneal proliferative condition.
• To characterize its clinical presentation, progression, and histopathological features.

Main Methods:

• Observational study of 14 patients (28 eyes) with gradually progressive conjunctival proliferation onto the cornea.
• Mean follow-up of 6 years to assess lesion characteristics.
• Histopathological analysis of 6 excised lesions.

Main Results:

• The condition presented as diffuse conjunctival proliferation extending onto the cornea in 14 patients.
• Lesions varied in location (nasal, temporal, circumferential) and extent.
• Histopathology revealed dense collagenous tissue with active fibroblasts and vascularization, lacking elastotic degeneration in most cases; no inflammatory activity was observed.

Conclusions:

• The observed condition appears to be a clinical variant of pterygium, characterized by wider and more irregular corneal involvement.
• Histological findings highlight a predominant non-inflammatory, non-elastotic collagenous accumulation, differentiating it from classic pterygium.