RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to assess state of the precorneal tear film in eyes with pterygium. Thirty patients with unilateral primary pterygium were enrolled. Schirmer's I, basic tear secretion, marginal tear strip and tear film break-up time tests were evaluated in both eyes of each patient. A conjunctival biopsy was taken from both eyes of 12 patients to evaluate goblet cell density. Values of Schirmer's I and basic tear secretion tests were not significantly different between the pterygium and control eyes. BUT, goblet cell density were significantly reduced, as well as abnormalities in the marginal tear strip were detected in eyes with pterygium. Accordingly, tear film dysfunction can be considered as a predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of pterygium