Pterygium: epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical aspects at the Douala General Hospital

Authors report the results of a retrospective study of epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical aspects of pterygium carried at the ophthalmological service of the Douala General Hospital. During the period of the study, 167 patients with pterygium were registered, which means a prevalence of 1.10%. The mean age of the patients was 41.76 years with standard deviation of 10.89. The noticed that men were a little bit predominant as compared to women with respectively 54.8% and 45.2% of cases. The pterygium were in the nasal side in 93.66% of cases and bilateral forms represented 31.73% of cases. 67 eyes were operated by excision technic more often associated to conjunctival translation. The relapse rate at 6 months was 7.44%. Authors recommend: 1 degree)-not to operate small and non-evaluative pterygium 2 degrees)-to use a magnifying system and if possible the operatory microscope 3 degrees)-to institute systematically an early, intensive, prolonged but degressive corticotherapy after surgery. 4 degrees)-to prescribe tinted or photochromic glasses to patients.