Biometric characteristics of pterygium patients compared to the general population

To evaluate the ocular biometry parameters of pterygium patients compared to the general population.

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study in one academic medical center. Biometric data was obtained using the IOLMaster700 © during routine visits over 6 years. Patients who underwent pterygium excision were enrolled in the pterygium group (prior to surgery), while all other patients were enrolled in the control group. Biometrical parameters were compared between groups.

Patients with pterygium demonstrated significantly shorter axial lengths (23.21mm vs. 23.69mm, P<0.001), higher corneal astigmatism (3.801±2.308 vs. 1.165±1.1687, P<0.001) with correspondingly flatter K1 (41.795±2.972 vs. 43.494±1.848 P<0.05) and steeper K2 (45.596±2.123 vs. 44.66±2.039 P<0.05), shallower anterior chambers (3.06±0.499 vs. 3.286±0.656 P<0.05), and shallower aqueous depth (2.53±0.506 vs. 2.755±0.655 P<0.05).

Patients with pterygium have shorter axial lengths, higher magnitude of corneal astigmatism and shallower anterior chambers as compared to the general population. However, they have similar values for lens thickness, central corneal thickness, pupil diameter, and white-to-white measurements. Surgeons may wish to consider these variations in the preoperative evaluation of pterygium patients who are candidates for phacoemulsification surgery.